Walking Ws 2007 1st Ed

2007
Our Websites
www.purebhakti.com
for news, updates, and free downloads of books, lectures, and bhajanas
www.harikatha.com
to receive, by email, the lectures and videos of rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja on his world tours
www.purebhakti.tv
to watch and hear, or to download, classes online
Our Kind Book Sponsors

Many contributed to the printing of this publication. We would especially like to thank Jaganntha dsa (Fiji), in memory of his good wife, Ka-ll ds; Nanda-nandana dsa & Mdhav ds; Dr. Asha Lata Pandey & Dr. Ajoy Kumar Pandey; Vinaya dsa & Kamna ds; Manohara dsa & Mana-mohin ds. (www.mygvp.com)
Contributors There were many contributors to the completion of Walking with a Saint Morning Walks and Conversations 2007 in the form of transcribers, translators, editors, designers, proofreaders, typists, and typesetters. Their names are listed here: rpda B. V. Bhgavata Mahrja (laghu), rpda B. V. Mdhava Mahrja, rpda B. V. Trtha Mahrja, nit ds, Bhadr ds, Brajanth dsa, Caitanya-candra dsa, Dmodara dsa, Govinda-priy ds, Jhnav ds, Jnak ds, Ka-kmin ds, Kumudin ds, Lalita-kior ds, Madana-mohin ds, Majar ds, Rdhik ds, St ds, Sudev ds, Sulat ds, ymar ds, Trilokantha dsa, Vaijayant-ml ds, Vsant ds, Vinoda-v ds, and Viurta dsa. Special thanks to a dsa (of purebhakti.tv) and Madhuvrata dsa for providing most of the sound-files. Thanks to the many devotees who participated in the walks and daranas, and to those who helped with filling in names when we couldnt recognize voices. Graphic and cover design by Anupama dsa Cover photo by Vsant ds Other photos by nit ds (p73, 299), James Northey (p1), Kamay ds (p103, 195), Sulat ds (p 311), Vsant ds (p 7, 83, 111, 147, 317, 325), Vndvana dsa (p19), Yajea dsa (p253)
r r guru-gaurgau jayata
Morning Walks and Conversations - ayan - . a Gosvam - l- Mahar - aja Srl-la Bhaktivedanta with Nar
2007
Vrindavan New Delhi San Francisco
2013 Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. Some Rights Reserved.

except where otherwise noted, only the text (not the design, photos, art, etc.) in this book is licensed under the creative commons attribution-no derivative works 3.0 unported license. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.purebhakti.com/pluslicense or write to: gvp.contactus@gmail.com
The photographers hold the copyright for their photos. The photos in this book can only be used with their permission. Verse translations and quotes that are marked with an asterisk (*) are by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. All other verse translations and quotes are by rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja.
Walking with A Saint - Morning Walks and Conversations 2007

by r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja First printing: January 2013 (3,000 copies) Printed by: Samrat Offset Pvt. Ltd. (Okhla Industrial Estate, India) isbn 978-1-935428-61-9 Library of Congress Control Number 2012955947 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Cataloging in Publication Data--DK Courtesy: D.K. Agencies (P) Ltd. <docinfo@dkagencies.com> Bhaktivednta Nryaa, 1921Walking with a saint : morning walks and conversations with rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja, 2007. p. cm. Includes verses in Sanskrit (roman); with English translation. ISBN 9781935428619 1. Vaishnavism. 2. Spiritual life--Hinduism. DDC 294.5512 23 I. Title.
Table of Contents
Foreword........................................................i Editors Preface...........................................ix Hilo, Hawaii.................................................. 1
January 1 dar sana............................................................................. 3
Kona, Hawaii................................................ 7
January (undated) morning walk excerpt............................... 9 January 14 dar sana.........................................................................10 January 19 dar sana.........................................................................14
North Shore, Hawaii................................. 19

January 2 s loka class (srl mad-Bhagavatam 11.17.27)......................21 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 3)..........................22 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 4)..........................25 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 5)..........................28 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 6).........................30 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 7)..........................31 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 9).........................34 January (undated) s loka class (Manah. siksa 11).........................36 January (undated) s loka class ( srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.5.30)......37 January (undated) s loka class (srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.5.31)........39 January (undated) s loka class (srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.5.32).......41 January (undated) s loka class (srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1).........44 January (undated) s loka class (srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.6.4)........49 January 27 dar sana.........................................................................50 January 28 dar sana........................................................................53 January 30 dar sana (Appearance day of srl Nityananda Prabhu)....57 January 31 morning dar sana.......................................................61 January 31 evening dar sana.........................................................62 February 2 s loka class (Caitanya-caritam.rta, Madhya-ll la 20.117)...64
Navadv pa, India........................................ 73

March (undated) dar sana............................................................75
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia............................83

April 17 dar sana...............................................................................85 April 19 airport dar sana................................................................92
Los Angeles, California............................ 103

May 18 airport dar sana.............................................................. 105
Houston, Texas...........................................111
May 23 dar sana............................................................................ 113 May 23 radio interview.............................................................. 115 June 3 copyright dar sana.......................................................... 123 June 5 dar sana.............................................................................. 125 June 8 airport dar sana............................................................... 127
San Francisco, California.........................147

June 13 dar sana after the walk............................................... 149 June 14 dar sana after the walk............................................... 152 June 16 morning walk................................................................. 155 sana after the walk............................................... 161 June 16 dar June 17 morning walk................................................................. 164 sana after the walk............................................... 171 June 17 dar June 18 morning walk................................................................. 174
Badger, California.................................... 195

June 20 morning walk................................................................ 197 June 21 morning walk................................................................. 204 June 22 morning walk................................................................ 215 June 23 morning walk................................................................. 222 June 24 morning walk................................................................ 232
Frielendorf, Germany.............................. 253

July 9 morning walk.................................................................... 255 July 10 morning walk.................................................................. 262
July 11 before the walk................................................................ 269 July 11 morning walk................................................................... 270 July 11 dar sana after the walk................................................. 276 July 11 11am mass dar sana......................................................... 278 July 12 morning walk................................................................... 281 July 13 morning walk................................................................... 285
New Delhi, India..................................... 299

September 30 dar sana............................................................... 301
Jammu, India............................................. 311

October 3 radio interview......................................................... 313
Vrnd . avana, India.......................................317

October 7 Lithuanian dar sana................................................. 319 October 29 dar sana..................................................................... 319
Govardhana, India................................... 325

November 18 dar sana................................................................. 327 November 23 dar sana................................................................. 331 November (undated) morning walk...................................... 332
Bangalore, India.......................................339
December (undated) dar sana.................................................. 341
Glossary..................................................... 345
Foreword
Walking With a Saint 2007 is the third published volume in the series of conversations between rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja and his numerous disciples and followers. These conversations were recorded during his daily morning walks, which took place throughout the several years of his widespread world preaching tours, and some of the conversations in many of his daranas are also included here. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja is a globally acclaimed scholar and saint, and is also recognized as an eternal associate of the Supreme Absolute Truth r r RdhKa and r Caitanya Mahprabhu. The respected reader is cordially invited to join him during these conversations, to truely benefit from the deep wisdom and compassion that emanate from the heart of this great living saint and that are articulated by his potent words. Western readers may be familiar with rla A. C. Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, who is renowned as rla Prabhupda and who is famous for having introduced and spread the glorious teachings of pure theistic thought in the Western world. In the same lineage and tradition, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja has continued to promulgate this message of Ka Consciousness across the world. It is by the potency of such great stalwart God-realized personalities that divine knowledge is disseminated. The ancient Vedic literatures have given humanity access and a glimpse of the divine world or supramundane plane since time immemorial. In essence, they emphasize the enormous importance of the association and guidance of saintly persons for the spiritual seekers ultimate success, and in many instances establish the extreme rarity of such association. The rmad-Bhgavatam, which is regarded as the crest jewel of timeless Vedic authority, illustrates this point (6.14.35): O Lord, there are as many living beings in this material world as there are grains of sand. Only a few of these are human beings, among whom only a few direct their efforts in search of a higher goal. Of those who are endeavoring for a higher goal, only a few rare individuals seek liberation from this world, and out of thousands of such people, hardly one is actually able to achieve yogic perfection or liberation (mukti). Amongst millions of perfected yogs and liberated souls, i
Walking with a Saint 2007
it is difficult to find a single peaceful, great soul who is fully dedicated to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, r Ka. The great Vaiava saint rla Bhaktivinoda hkura says of this verse, Such pure devotees, who are free from all contaminations of the heart and mind, are very rare indeed. Even among millions of liberated souls, one can hardly find a single pure devotee of Ka. Therefore, no association in this world is more rare than the association of Kas devotees. It is in the light of this appreciation that we ask our patient readers to take advantage of the pages of this third volume of Walking with a Saint. Here in the foreword we include several quotes for your interest, which illuminate the profound nature of the association of such saints. In thinking about writing this foreword, which is one of the first things you, our respected readers, will see in this book, we considered you would be most inspired by personally hearing about the benefits of saintly association from saints of their own caliber. The first glorification of such association is an excerpt from r Guru-bhakti by rla Saccidnanda Bhaktivinoda hkura (taken from Rays of the Harmonist, Memorial Edition r Vysa-pj, No. 23, 2011): The living entity who is blinded by the delusion of r Kas potency of illusion and bound in the widespread network of material existence wanders here and there. Having been captivated by the hope for happiness, he searches for happiness in knowledge, intelligence, wealth, honor, etc., but by no means can he make himself happy. In this way, the living entity passes many lives. As a result of accruing great spiritual merit over many births, faith in bhajana is transmitted into the living entitys heart. His only chance of attaining true happiness is in bhajana, devotion to Ka. r Ka is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the living entities, called jvas, are His eternal servants. raddh is the very strong and determined faith that by performing bhakti to r Ka, all sufferings are dispelled and one becomes situated in ones constitutional position as a servant of Ka. With this faith, the jva soon takes the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide guru and attains all types of perfection, solely by the virtue of r gurus grace. The boundlessly merciful Vaiavas are the supreme friends of the fallen jvas in this world. Knowing the jvas to be averse to Ka, the Vaiavas instruct them on bhakti-tattva, the fundamental principles of pure devotion. When faith develops in this, the jva takes shelter of the lotus feet of a Vaiava, who now instructs him on bhajana. Then, when the disciple exhibits suitable qualification, ii
Foreword
having developed single-mindedness and expertise in bhajana, r guru bestows his mercy upon him by granting the power to behold the storehouse of transcendence, r Ka. Such is the endless mercy of the Vaiava. The second excerpt is called r Gaura-kiora The Deity of Ideal Renunciation (taken from Rays of the Harmonist, Memorial Edition r Vysa-pj, No. 23, 2011). It was spoken by rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura Prabhupda, and compiled, translated (into Hindi) and edited by rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. It glorifies the association of great saints in this way: My gurupdapadma is not a teacher of any of the illusory subjects of this world, which are aimed only at enjoyment; at the same time, he alone is the indisputable genius in every subject in this world. However, because I am deprived and fallen, because of my own weaknesses, not all of my gurupdapadmas teachings have entered my heart.1 He beautifully expresses the gratitude of a fortunate recipient of such spiritual shelter and association thus: In order to speak all the teachings that, by my gurupdapadmas mercy, have somehow entered through the pathways of my ears, may I possess millions upon millions of tongues, millions upon millions of heads, and millions upon millions of years to live. Then I will sing about the unparalleled compassion and benevolence of my gurupdapadma throughout the unlimited universes, with millions and millions of tongues and millions and millions of heads for millions and millions of years. Only then will I have truly performed guru-pj On that day I will finally be liberated from singing about fleeting illusory matters. On that day I will be released from the captivity of all the mundane teachings of this world.
1 The nature of pure love of God is such that one who possesses it always feels himself
bereft. Such transcendental humility was displayed by r Caitanya Mahprabhu when He exclaimed, Na prema-gandho 'sti darpi me harau I haven't the slightest tinge of love of God (Caitanya-caritmta, Madhya-ll 2.45). All of our rpnuga cryas have expressed similar sentiments. For example, rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja uttered these words: Personally, I have no hope for any direct service for the coming crores of births of the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Out of compassion for the fallen souls, to encourage them on the gradually ascending path of bhakti, the crya (in this instance, rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura) may sometimes use himself as an example of one who must yet labor for perfection when instructing those who actually do have a long way to go to reach such perfection. In this way he inspires hope in others and nurtures an affectionate relationship with them.
iii
He continues, How merciful was he that he used to say to me, Your scholarship, your purity, and your aristocracy give it all up and come to stay with me. You will not have to go anywhere else. Whatever you need a cottage, a house, a mansion, a palace whatever scholarship and prestige you need, or whatever degree of self control and renunciation you wish to attain, you will get it all by being here. Just come to me. Do not run here and there, impelled by desires like, I must have a nice home, I must find a good means to achieve material success, and I must become vastly learned. Do not aspire to achieve what ordinary people value so much. Compelled by compassion, my gurupdapadma has appeared in this world to bestow upon me, by the collyrium of knowledge, the divine realization that I am the servant of Nanda-nandana [r Ka, the son of Nanda Mahrja]. Due to my ignorance, I had come to believe that enjoying the objects of the senses was my duty and purpose in life. Thus I had completely lost sight of my real duty. But r gurupdapadma has appeared in this world to dispel the darkness of my ignorance. By his personal deep humility, rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura continues to instruct us on the glories of taking shelter in such saintly association. He says, r gurupdapadma removes the veil from my eyes and grants me true sight by divine knowledge. He pulls away the veil that covers my eyes, slightly parts my eyelids and instructs me, Open your eyes and look. For so long I thought I could see with my eyes shut. So I am abandoning my pride and offering namaskra [obeisance] to him. This indeed is the ingredient of my worship. The act of renouncing the arrogant conception that I am the seer and enjoyer is called namaskra. When I was nurturing the misconception that I am the doer, r gurupdapadma opened my eyes and dismissed my notions of reality, which were improperly conceived. Driven by some other knowledge, I was following the blind. Gurupdapadma made me realize that I must not follow the blind, that I must follow he who is possessed of divine vision, and that to worship him was my duty. Last but not least is this third excerpt, which further helps us understand the mercy that awaits us in the association and shelter of great Vaiava saints. It was spoken by rla Prabhupda Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja in 1936, on the occasion of the appearance day of his guru mahrja, rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura Prabhupda: While others were yet in the womb of historical oblivion, the sages of India had developed a different kind of civilization, which enabled them to know themselves. They had discovered that we are iv
Foreword
not at all material entities, but that we are all spiritual, permanent, and indestructible servants of the Absolute. But because we have, against our better judgment, chosen to completely identify ourselves with this present material existence, our sufferings have multiplied according to the inexorable law of birth and death, with its consequent diseases and anxieties. These sufferings cannot be really mitigated by any provision of material happiness, because matter and spirit are completely different elements. It is as if you were to take an aquatic animal out of water and put it on the land, supplying all manner of happiness possible on land. The deadly sufferings of the animal are not capable of being relieved at all until it is taken out of its foreign environment. Spirit and matter are completely contradictory things. All of us are spiritual entities. We cannot have perfect happiness, which is our birthright, however much we may meddle with the affairs of mundane things. Perfect happiness can be ours only when we are restored to our natural state of spiritual existence. This is the distinctive message of our ancient Indian civilization, this is the message of the Gt, this is the message of the Vedas and the Puras, and this is the message of all the real cryas, including our present cryadeva in the line of Lord Caitanya. Gentlemen, although it is imperfectly that we have been enabled by his grace to understand the sublime messages of our cryadeva, o viupda paramahasa parivrjakcrya r rmad Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm Mahrja, we must admit that we have realized definitely that the divine message from his holy lips is the congenial thing for suffering humanity. All of us should hear him patiently. If we listen to the transcendental sound without unnecessary opposition, he will surely have mercy upon us. The cryas message is to take us back to our original home, back to God. Let me repeat, therefore, that we should hear him patiently, follow him in the measure of our conviction, and bow down at his lotus feet for releasing us from our present causeless unwillingness for serving the Absolute and all souls.
About This Book

Walking With A Saint 2007 gives all its readers the sublime association with a saint of the caliber of those glorified above. It was in 2008 that rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja first requested that his morning walks be published in yearly installments. Since v
then, Walking With A Saint 2008 and then 2009 were manifest by his mercy. As described above, it is the duty of r guru to open the eyes of his disciples, who had previously thought that they could see the world with their eyes shut. Similarly, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja corrected his disciples when they were astray in their concepts of life, their subsequent behavior, and their need for more precision in philosophical understanding and presentation. As the months rolled on with the first publication, Walking With A Saint 2008, and more and more walks and daranas were being edited, several of the editors began to consider removing the names of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas spiritual daughters and sons who were corrected or lovingly chastised by him, worried that those followers would be embarrassed by public exposure. The editors wanted to express their concerns to him personally, and one of their representatives had the good fortune to do that in Delhi, India, in March of 2010. Here is the transcription: ymar ds: rla Gurudeva, during some of your morning walks and daranas you lovingly chastise disciples; and sometimes, out of your compassion, you tell about the faults of certain disciples and others to the devotees present with you. Some of the editors are thinking that these statements should not be in the book. They are concerned that on one hand we are supposed to quote our Gurudeva, and on the other hand we are not supposed to criticize others. If the readers see your chastisements or apparent criticisms in the book, they might feel comfortable to also criticize those same persons or anyone else. How do we reconcile this? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What I have told, I have told. There is no need for adjustment; nothing to ask about that. By this chastisement, he will correct himself. I gave him this good instruction for him as well as for others. ymar ds: So, should we write in our Foreword to the book that the self-realized guru has a right to chastise, but others do not? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes.2
2 Several statements by rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja were included in the Foreword of Walking With A Saint 2008 regarding the danger of a conditioned soul chastising and criticizing others, and two such statements are included here:
vi
Foreword
ymar ds: Suppose a disciple is doing something wrong and you instruct him or chastise him for his betterment, and after that he changes for the better. Then, although he has already changed, one or two years later people may read the Morning Walk book and think, He is doing wrong, or He has done wrong. Do we need to keep in the name of the devotee who is being corrected or chastised? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. I have chastised disciples for those disciples well-being; but others should not chastise or find fault. They have no power to do so. ymar ds: When you say no power, do you mean that they have no power to change the person or make him Ka conscious, so they have no authority to criticize or chastise? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. The best thing about this book is that everyone who reads it feels like they are right there with the saint in the book, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja, receiving his loving compassion on his walks and daranas. We pray that our readers excuse any errors in our presentation. Praying for the mercy of Hari, Guru, and Vaiavas, The Editorial Team, O Viupda r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Maharajas tirobhva-tithi, 6 January 2013
To bring a person from the clutches of the Lords deluding material potency, my, is very, very hard. If lust or any other attachment is present in that persons heart it will go away very soon if he is chanting, remembering, and listening to harikath. Be very careful. Dont criticize devotees or non-devotees. First look at your own condition and try to purify yourself. Is there any lust in you? Is there any deceit in you? Be worried for that; dont worry for others. Guru and Ka are responsible for others. You cannot do anything to help them, so you have no right to criticize (Hilo, Hawaii: February 7, 2005). If we think of others bad qualities, we will have to absorb those qualities in ourselves (India: September 4, 2005). * Please note that, unless otherwise referenced, all the bracketed statements within the text, as well as all the footnotes, have been written by the editors and are based on the explanations of rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja.
vii
Editors' Preface
Why We Edit The Way We Do

Whenever r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja would speak during morning walks or private daranas like those presented in this series of books, he would shower us with wisdom and instructions. Tens of thousands of his disciples and followers were so fortunate as to receive this direct guidance. As we sat before him, listening to the tone of his voice, watching his facial expressions his smiles, his frowns, the expressions of his eyes and noting his gestures, it was easy, for the most part, to understand his words and grasp his intent. However, when those same words are transcribed onto paper, the meaning is sometimes lost. It was a dilemma. He had instructed us to publish his classes in English. He had repeatedly told us that his teachings should be recorded, received, and understood. He asked, time and again, that books be made of his morning walks and daranas. But English was not his mother language, and direct transcriptions of his words did not suitably represent him. Still, how could we edit? Editing the words of a pure Vaiava seemed like a transgression of proper etiquette. We discussed our quandary with him, not once or twice, but many, many times. rla Mahrja was not only very much aware that his words had to be edited; it was his idea, and he gave various persons this responsibility. He clearly understood the importance of clear communication the power of the written word in broadcasting the message of r Caitanya Mahprabhu. He repeatedly directed us to edit his words so as to clearly represent his meaning to Western readers. Since 1997, when we first began the editing of rla Mahrjas classes, we asked him thousands of questions to clarify what he meant to say. This was done in person and by email, and he always kindly replied. We also asked thousands of questions to his personal servant, who, having heard rla Mahrja explain the same points many, many times in Hindi and Bengali, also kindly answered our questions, and continues to do so to the present day. The following are examples of the type of editing we have done: Sometimes we have had to substitute words or phrases. For example, rla Mahrja told us that when he could not think of the
ix
English equivalent to a Hindi word, he may say anything or thing. For example, paraphrasing rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura, he once said, If Ive told, and you have understand anything rather thing, not proper thing, so it is my fault that I could not make you understand. So God and uddha-bhaktas (pure devotees) should forgive me. He was actually wanting to say, If Ive told something, and you have understood it in a different way, not in the proper way, then it is my fault that I could not make you understand. May God and the uddha-bhaktas forgive me. Sometimes we have had to add the intended meaning. He once said that before rla Bhaktivednta Svm Prabhupda came to America he had no personality. He actually meant that rla Prabhupda was not a well-known personality. When he said that the gops passed through the narrow galleries of Govardhana, he meant that they passed through the narrow alleyways. Yet another example is when he told us that when he had said, The gops knew by Prim and Gargcrya that Ka is God, yet they never saw Him as a God, his real meaning was, The gops heard from Prim and Gargcrya that Ka is God, but they did not believe knew this. They personally never saw Him as God. He told us, means heard from others. It was not their view. He expected us to add the intended meaning to the transcript. The following is an exact transcription of an original sound file of a conversation that took place in Australia. This was used in Walking with a Saint 2009. It is followed by the published version. This sound file was particularly hard to decipher, as sometimes more than one person was speaking at the same time. Mahprabhu dsa: Some devotees are asking, Should we forget the temple in Murwillambah and build something at the Garden-ashram instead? Brajanth dsa: Mathurntha prabhu, he has a big piece of land. You went by boat. Remember? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. Murwillambah is better. This place is not good. Mahprabhu dsa: Okay. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Mathurntha. Mahprabhu dsa: Yes.
Editors Preface
Brajanth dsa: For temple. Mahprabhu dsa: For temple. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: River crossing, on the top of hill. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: The place is okay, but for rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No plane case [??] [This sentence was not clear]. No big hall can be done. Mahprabhu: Yes. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Because in rainy season none can go rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And in Murwillumbah easily all can come. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yeah. Brajanth dsa: For festivals. Mahprabhu dsa: For festivals. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yeah. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: So better there. Mahprabhu dsa: Okay. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Suppose put a festival there and rains start. All will get stuck and not go. Mahprabhu dsa: Yes. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: From the viewpoint of living it is ok, but for festival, Murwillumbah better. The edited, printed version reads: Mahprabhu dsa: Some devotees are asking if we should build something at the Garden-ashram instead of in Murwillambah. Brajanth dsa: Mathurntha prabhu has a big piece of land that you went by boat to see. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. Murwillambah is
xi
better. Mathurnthas Garden-ashram is not a good location for a temple. Devotees have to cross a river and climb a hill. And they cant build a big hall there. Murwillambah is easily accessible to all, so it is a better location. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: As a residence, the Gardenashram is okay, but Murwillambah is better for festivals. In the rainy season no one can access Garden-ashram. These examples demonstrate some of the difficulties we have faced in editing rla Mahrjas speech. Such extensive editing as we did in the above conversation is not common; it is rare, but still, it is sometimes done. During the manifest presence of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja, this editing was done under his order and direction. On many occasions he clearly let us know it pleased him that his words would be presented in this way. Now, we are still following the instructions he gave us, in the hope that again he will be pleased. In this regard, we take shelter of the wisdom of the venerable rla Bhakti Rakaka rdhara Gosvm Mahrja, in a darana given in March, 1978. (Only the punctuation was edited by us.) rla rdhara Mahrja: Our gurudeva, he dictated in English some instructions once, but little faulty from the standpoint of correct English. Then our one professor Bhaal, disciple, he told that [it is the] dictionary [that] should be corrected. What Gurudeva says, it is alright. Assembly: [Laughter] Jaya. rla rdhara Mahrja: Do you follow? Grammar and dictionary should be corrected, but what guru says it is alright. Then another, little higher, position disciple, he told that that is the lowest class disciples statement. The higher class disciple will see that what guru wants from him, what sort of service he wants; that correct English should go to establish his position to the public. So when it comes to the iya (disciple), it will adjust. Suppose your gurudeva, when you are going to take his photo, in ordinary dress he comes before the photo maker. But the iya will, No, no. You should stand in this posture; with this dress you must take the photo. Do you follow?
xii
Editors Preface
Assembly: Yes. Tamla-ka Mahrja: Very clear, very clear. rla rdhara Mahrja: So, in language also, gurudeva gives the main point, but the language, if it is a little faulty, faulty to the public, the iya will come: No, this should be couched in good language. That is not harmful. Do you follow? Assembly: Yes. rla rdhara Mahrja: So, in Sanskrit, what your Guru Mahrja has told, Namo srasvat, small these things, you say. I can't follow whether it is correct grammatically, but it will be your duty, according to my opinion, to couch it well with the language. And that will be the greatest service, service of higher quality. And to say that Dictionary should be corrected and the grammer should be corrected, what my guru has said. But practically, that will be kaniha-adhikr service; the lower iya, the lower status service....To explain his prestige and position, you will dress him in good dress. In addition, we may omit certain portions of the sound files for the following reasons: (1) A discussion is going on with rla Mahrjas devotees but with no audible participation on his part. He may have been nodding yes or shaking his head no, but because he was not speaking, we could not reference his words. Somebody might have asked a question and somebody else might have answered it, but if rla Mahrja did not give his audible input, we did not include those devotees conversations. (2) If somebody asked rla Mahrja a question and somebody else rephrased that question to him, we may not include this rephrasing. (3) Sometimes, after rla Mahrja said something, someone else might repeat some part of that. Mostly, we did not include this repetition. (4) If somebody asked rla Mahrja a question and there was no audible answer, then we did not include that persons question. (5) When rla Mahrja engaged in friendly conversation with someone, everyone within hearing and seeing range could feel something of the transcendental love of God emanating from
xiii
his being. They were overwhelmed by his friendliness, care, concern, and compassion, and they received spiritual benefit from his mere presence. In spite of the obvious transcendental value of these daranas to those present, if the conversations were not instructive philosophically or practically, we may omit them. We readily admit our own imperfections in the matter of hearing and editing the transcendental words of our beloved Gurudeva, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. We pray to our respected readers to forgive any errors made in transcribing, editing, and in the overall presentation, and invite you to communicate your findings and corrections to us. We encourage you all to visit the magnificent archive of sound and video recordings of r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. (See www.purebhakti.tv for free downloading and online hearing, or www.purebhakti.com/gvp for submitting correction suggestions.) Finally, we would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to give our profound thanks to rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas servant, rpda Bhaktivednta Mdhava Mahrja, and rla Mahrjas secretary, rpda Brajanth prabhu, for their graciousness in facilitating, since the beginning, all of our editorial questions. Praying for the mercy of r Hari, Guru, and Vaiavas, ymar ds and the Editorial Team, O Viupda r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Maharajas tirobhva-tithi, 6 January 2013
xiv
Hilo
January 1, 2007
Dar sana
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I wish you all a happy New Year. The New Year we are now celebrating is in accordance with Western calculation. Most people celebrate it in relation to their physical body and mind, because those in the Western world are very concerned about their physical health and mental well-being not more than that. Very few persons in the Western world know about the soul. They dont even know where they will go after death. They work at jobs, but they dont know of their goal after retirement, and they become crazy. We have to celebrate the New Year in such a way that our devotion will increase day by day. We have to know that we are not this gross or subtle body; we are not our mind, ego, and intelligence. We are beyond all these things. We are spirit souls, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Let us leave whatever material consideration was with us last year, and start anew this year. Our devotion must increase. The question may arise: If my devotion must increase, how will I maintain my life? For maintaining your life, you can continue what you are doing. Whether you want to or not, you must perform some karma. Bhagavn r Ka told Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gt (3.5): na hi kacit kaam api jtu tihaty akarma-kt kryate hy avaa karma sarva prakti-jair guai
[No one can remain inactive, not even for a moment. Everyone is impelled to act under the influence of such qualities as attachment and hate, which are born of ones nature.]
No one can remain alive without performing some activity. Whether you want to or not, you have to breathe. Whether you are breathing or holding your breath, this is also karma. If you are standing, sitting, walking, or talking, all these are in the category of karma. So, to maintain our lives, we are forced to engage in some karma. But this will not give you eternal happiness, or peace and tran quillity of mind. For happiness, you must engage in some devotional 3
service, and to cultivate devotion successfully, you must first of all surrender at the lotus feet of a bona fide guru. In good association, under the guidance of gurudeva, you can progress in devotional life. If you do this, your New Years celebration will be successful. In this world there are eight million four-hundred thousand species of life, and among them four-hundred-thousand are human beings. Most of the human population does not know about God. They think they know God, but who God is, what are His qualities, and what is His form is not known to them at all. They only want to say God. That is enough for them; they dont know more than that. In America, the government writes on its dollar bill In God we trust, but they do not have any conception of God. So, who is God? G is for generator, He who creates this world. O is for operator, He who nourishes and protects us. And D is for destroyer. He who is the owner, creator, and destroyer is Bhagavn, or God. It is mentioned in the Vedic scripture [rmad-Bhgavatam 1.3.28], Ete ca-kal pusa, kas tu bhagavn svayam all the incar na tions of Godhead are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Ka is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Therefore we must serve Him, taking a vow from this very day, the New Years Day. Whatever happened happened [Let bygones be bygones]. We have to forget all these material things and start anew our Ka consciousness, and then our celebration of New Years Day will be successful. n-deham dya sulabha sudurlabha plava sukalpa guru-kara-dhram maynuklena nabhasvaterita pumn bhavbdhi na taret sa tma-h rmad-Bhgavatam (11.20.17)
[The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat, having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.*]
Hilo
N-deha means human body. We have received a human body, which is very rare to achieve, and now it is easy for us to do bhajana. However, we can see that other living entities do not create weapons of mass destruction and so many arrangements to maintain their lifestyle. If anything happens, they quarrel with each other with their claws and teeth, and at the next moment they forget their quarrelling. But we humans take revenge and become more ferocious than tigers, bears, lions, and other wild animals. How can we become calm, quiet and peaceful with each other? It is possible only if we do bhajana. So, n-deham dya sulabha sudurlabha, plava sukalpa guru-kara-dhram. This human body is like a boat going from one place to another, in one direction or another. A captain is needed for the boat. Who is that captain? The bona fide guru. Here in Hawaii we are situated by the Pacific Ocean, and we see every day there are some boats floating on it. These boats have sails, and when the sails catch the wind, the boats move very fast. In the same way, sdhu-saga (association with pure devotees of Ka) is the favorable wind, for by sdhu-saga we can advance very quickly in Ka consciousness. In this way our lives will be maintained very easily, and we can be calm and quiet and in harmony with each other. Thus, our celebration here will be successful. Generally, people understand the meaning of happiness in terms of the body, mind, health, money, and good sons and daughters. They consider that if they have these things, they will be happy, but everyone becomes unhappy in spite of having them. For a long time, since the creation of this world, we have been coming and going, taking birth and dying, but still we are not happy. We have forgotten Ka. We are part and parcel of Ka, and we have forgotten Him. That is why His illusory my threw us into this world and covered our constitutional form and qualities with two bodies the physical body and the subtle body. We are trying so hard, here and there, to be happy, but really everyone is full of grief. Only a truly qualified guru can teach us by what process Kas service can be achieved. Then, by practice and maturity of bhakti-sdhana, we will surely become happy. My blessing is that I am praying to Ka that He will sprinkle His mercy upon you all, so that you will become truly joyful in every way by body, mind, and soul. Are there any questions?
Haladhara dsa: What is the meaning of the name Rdh, or Rdhr? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Rdh means always serving r Ka. Rdh means to please Ka. Also, She is pleased by Ka. Rdh means She runs towards Ka to serve Him. Rdhik means Ka searches for Her and pleases Her. Ka means all-attractive, with innumerable good qualities. Rpa-mdhur: He is exquisitely beautiful. Veu-mdhur: His flute playing is very, very sweet. Gua-mdhur: He is full with particularly sweet qualities. Ll-mdhur: His pastimes are enchanting. By these qualities Ka attracts all beings in the world and delivers them. All living beings, namely birds, animals, and all other creatures, are attracted to Him, and therefore He is called Ka. Ka is the ocean of rasa, or transcendental relationships, and Rdh is the power of Ka and the embodiment of mahbhva (the highest love for Him). By Her sweet service to Him, Rdh attracts and controls Him. Although Rdh and Ka are not two bodies, only one, it can also be said that Ka is the one Supreme Person and Rdh is the akti, or power, within Him. For ll-vilsa, or sweet pastimes, They have become two bodies, but They remain one soul.
Kona
January (undated), 2007

Morning walk excerpt
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla prabhu is saying that Satsvarpa Mahrja was very attached to the vaidh mood. rla Prabhupda was trying to encourage him, You should reciprocate with me from your heart. rla is asking, How can we develop the mood of mamat for our gurudeva, so that we have that heart reciprocation with him? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What do you mean by mamat? rla dsa: Uh dsya-bhva (the mood of servitorship). Of course, it is more than just service. There is a mood of mine-ness (posses siveness): Gurudeva is mine, and I belong to Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who has more sense of mineness for Ka Nanda Bb, Mother Yaod, the sakhs, or the gops? rla dsa: The gops. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Within all the rasas there is more mamat in mdhurya-rasa, and within mdhurya-rasa, Rdhik has more mamat than the other gops. Mamat means, Whatever I have my mind, body, soul, wealth, reputation, and everything else I have given totally, solely, to Him. I have given Him my whole energy. For whom you give more energy, mamat will develop more to that person. If you give your entire energy, then mamat will be complete: mnasa, deha, geha, jo kichu mora arpil tuw pade, nanda-kiora! Mnasa Deha Geha (Verse 1)
[Mind, body, family, and whatever else is mine, I have surrendered at Your lotus feet, O youthful Son of Nanda!]
mrabi, rkhabi jo icch tohr nitya-dsa prati tuw adhikr Mnasa Deha Geha (Verse 3)
[Slay me or protect me as You wish, for You have full ownership of Your eternal servitor.]
When this mood comes, it is understood that mamat is present. The gradation of this mood corresponds to the gradation of mamat. You have some mamat for me, but it is not full. You are not giving your entire deha (body), geha (family), and mnasa (mind) to me. If you will give yourself to me as they do [indicating the other devotees present], then you will have mamat. When you have strong faith in me, thinking, He can help me in Ka consciousness, then it will come.
January 14, 2007

Dar sana
Ka-priy ds (from Canada): Govinda has a question regarding your hari-kath last night. He wants to know how to follow rla Svm Prabhupdas mood. Would that be in vaidh-bhakti or rgnuga-bhakti?1 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: One must follow vaidh-bhakti. But if one practices vaidh-bhakti in our line reading r Caitanyacaritmta and rmad-Bhgavatam and hearing classes on all the subjects there, one will automatically come to rgnuga. If anyone practices bhakti as rla Rpa Gosvm explained it in Bhaktirasmta-sindhu, he will surely come to rgnuga. All the principles explained by rla Rupa Gosvm are connected to rgnuga. One should begin from vaidh-bhakti, and then he can easily develop rgnuga. Madana-mohin ds: So, those who are just beginning to practice bhakti should not try to practice rgnuga? It will come naturally? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Simply by hearing hari-kath, they gradually begin vaidh-bhakti and then in due course become qualified for rgnuga.
1 Vaidh-bhakti is devotion prompted by the regulations of the scriptures. When sdhana-bhakti is not inspired by intense longing, but is instigated by the discipline of scriptures, it is called vaidh-bhakti. Rgnuga-bhakti is bhakti that follows in the wake of r Kas eternal associates in Vraja, whose hearts are permeated with rga, which is an unquenchable loving thirst for Ka that gives rise to spontaneous and intense absorption.
10
Kona
Ka-priy ds: Are any of us qualified for rgnuga-bhakti? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I think many will become qualified. Do you want to go to Vaikuha to serve Lord Nryaa? Devotee: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do you want to go to Dvrak to be a queen? Devotee: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do you want to go to Mathur? Devotee: No. I want to be a servant of Rdh. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is rgnuga the awakening of such greed. To those who come to me, I give a powerful injection that never goes in vain. This injection will gradually take them up to rdh-dsyam (personal service to rmat Rdhik). But they must follow. It has been told in Bhagavad-gt(4.34): tad viddhi praiptena paripranena sevay upadekyanti te jna jninas tattva-darina
[Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.*]
Intellectually knowing the philosophy will not suffice. If one knows all the scriptures, like rmad-Bhgavatam, the Puras, the Vedas, Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu, and Ujjvala-nlamai, but he cannot satisfy his gurudeva, his erudition has no value. On the other hand, even if one does not have much scriptural knowledge but he always satisfies his gurudeva, it is certain that he will become qualified. vikrita vraja-vadhbhir ida ca vio raddhnvito nuuyd atha varayed ya bhakti par bhagavati pratilabhya kma hd-rogam v apahinoty acirea dhra rmad-Bhgavatam (10.33.39)
11
[A grave person who faithfully and continuously hears the narrations of the transcendental pastimes that Bhagavn r Ka performed with the young girls of Vraja, and then describes those pastimes accordingly, achieves supreme devotion for the lotus feet of Bhagavn. He very quickly attains freedom from the diseases of the heart, which are the transformations of lust.]
The word anuuyd in this verse means that the disciple hears from gurudeva. Then, by serving and pleasing him, that disciple will become qualified to speak and preach. If a learned person is preaching but is not pleasing gurudeva, he is not qualified. His speaking will not produce any good result. Jayar ds (from New York): How do we continue to serve you when we leave here and go back to our normal lives? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can remember the harikath you have been hearing this week. Try to understand it and incorporate it into your life. Always meditate on that hari-kath, and execute the instructions I give while speaking. Jayar ds: To always think what you would want us to do? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. ymar ds: Jayar, my niece, has received dk from you. And this is Sarah, my other niece. She is meeting you for the first time, and she has a question. Sarah: How do I sever worldly ties and become free to come to the spiritual realm? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The holy name is even more powerful then the Supreme Lord Himself. If you chant the holy name, Ka will mercifully arrange everything for you. You will have the time to engage more fully in Ka consciousness. Please chant the very powerful holy name of Ka. ymar ds: Because she is so new, she still eats meat. Can you tell her something that would encourage her to give that up? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should know that within the word meat there is ME-EAT, meaning those whom I eat will eat me. Sarah: They will eat me? 12
Kona
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Brajanth dsa: If you eat an animal in this life, that animal will eat you in the next life. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That may happen even in this life. The animals will surely take revenge. So dont take meat, wine, eggs, and fish; all these are forbidden. Be careful to avoid these, beginning from today. Sumagal ds (from California): rla Gurudeva, here is my Vysapj offering. I am giving it to you now, because on Vysa-pj day [4 days later] there will be so many people coming to you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can always come. All can come. I am the father of all of you. The father has affection for all his children, so dont be fearful. Sumagal ds: I have a question. Are the scriptures of other religions also abda-prama (transcendental evidence)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, but so-called followers do not actually understand or follow their scriptures. The Bible has told us, God created man after His own image. After His own image means that He has a very beautiful transcendental form. The so-called followers dont agree with this. They say, Our God has no form. This is true for Muslims also. It is not written anywhere in the Koran, the Muslim scripture, that, Those who do not follow Mohammad are the enemy and you should kill them. Still, some Muslim leaders want the entire world to become Muslim and to chant Allah, Huda by force. In the Koran it has been written that Allah has a form, and according to that form He created man; but the so-called followers dont agree. Sumagal ds: Are those Vedic scriptures that are within the three guas2 also abda-prama, or only the scriptures in sattva-gua? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, they are abda-prama. Especially, rmad-Bhgavatam is amala prama, the spotless evidence. If you follow rmad-Bhgavatam, you will see that all
2 Gua lit. a rope; binding force; three qualities of material nature which bind the living entity as ropes do, due to him accepting different mentalities and corresponding activities. These ropes are named sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (darkness). All activities related to material nature are carried out by the agency of these three guas.
13
pramas (Vedic evidences) are present there. The real meaning of abda-prama is rmad-Bhgavatam. Gt ds: I need your help. I am too stressed with my pjr sev (service to the temple deities) in Los Angeles. Can I train others and have them help me? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, they can help you. You can train those who are favorable to the training. Sudev ds (from Canada): Im always so lusty and my brain is never working. I need a powerful injection. Do you still have affection for me even though I am acting so bad? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why do you say that? Sudev ds: I am so dry in my heart. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to make your heart rasastha (full of rasa), flavorful. Sudev ds: But how? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: As others have done, and as I have done. Always be happy, sinking in the ocean of Rdh-Kas love. Give your entire energy to that, and be happy. If you do not give your energy, your energy will automatically go to sense gratification, and then you cannot be happy. Sudev ds: But the pulling is so strong. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Be like us. Follow those devotees who are following me, and be happy. In this way, control your mind and heart.
January 19, 2007

Dar sana
ymar ds: This is Glen. He is a famous art dealer. He has a big gallery in Maui. ym ds showed him your art and he became impressed. He wants to sell the original art and giclees (state-of-theart canvas prints) for high prices, in order to bring the art into a new sphere of recognition in the West. 14
Kona
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Glen] My blessings to you. ymar ds: Can you say something about the special value of your spiritual art that other art doesnt have? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If anyone sees pictures of Ka and Rdhik and Their associates, that person will receive sukti (spiritual pious credits) and gradually become attracted to Ka consciousness. He will then attain the association of a real sdhu, a bona fide spiritual master. He will thus advance in spiritual life and become happy forever. People everywhere are seeing these transcendental pictures and inquiring, Who is He? Very beautiful! In this way, just by seeing the pictures, they are reminded of r r Rdh and Ka. A very powerful sukti will come to them, and their lives will become successful. Moreover, if devotees see these pictures, they will take Kas image in their eyes and keep it in their hearts. How did he receive your paintings? Brajanth dsa: Your daughter ym ds met him and invited him here. ymar ds: By Kas arrangement, he picked your Vysa-pj day to come and meet with us. Glen: My friend Jacob (Ramesh dsa) here rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You know him? Glen: We just met. The number-one thing we might like to accomplish is to broaden the interest of the art by bringing in collectors from outside your devotees circles. Their interest in the meaning of the paintings will develop after they develop interest in the beauty. I think it is a wonderful opportunity. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Good idea. ymar ds: He is impressed that the money we receive from the art will not go to anyones personal interest, but to your beautiful charity projects. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. ymar ds: This is my niece, Sarah. When she came to you during the Vysa-pj ceremony yesterday, you said she should take initiation.
15
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But she must first give up meat. ymar ds: I told her you would give her power to give this up. If she is willing and has faith in you, then you will give her strength. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Sarah: I am afraid. Do you think you can make me ready? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. But be strong and determined that, I will not take these bogus things cigarettes, meat, and all other abominable things. Vivambhara dsa: Jva-pvana prabhu is here, and we have a report to give you on international book distribution your book distribution around the world. I have compiled a report that shows the book distribution for the past three years. Last year we distributed 50,000 books and this year over 150,000 books over three times more than before. Also, in dollar amounts, we made under $40,000 last year, and this year $80,000. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: $80,000. Vivambhara dsa: Yes, in book sales. I will share this report with the book distributors around the world. The most widely distributed books are Way of Love, Jaiva-dharma, the School of Vraja CD book, and the songbook. Here is the list with more details of the numbers of each title sold. The list also shows the top distributors in the world. England is number one. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who sold the most? Jva-pvana dsa: You gave an example that they should work as a team like a soccer team one is the captain, one is the helper, and so on. So the devotees in England are very much working as a team. The senior men are starting a temple in London. rama Mahrja has a small group of new brahmacrs. He and the brahmacrs collected 50,000 and paid their bills for the books they distributed. They want to buy a property. The Gagmts now have two houses one for the brahmacris and one for guests. No one owes me money. They are paying for the books, and that money goes into the book fund. So, I cannot say who is the number one, or main, distributor in the UK, because they work as a team. Vivambhara dsa: The USA Festival team a party consisting of myself, Rma-knta prabhu, Vndvana prabhu, my sister Rdh, 16
Kona
and Gaurav are one of the most successful teams in America. Bhaktistore.com, which is an online distributor run by your Gurukula in Badger, is also distributing more books now. My sister Rdh also distributes books on the streets. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Wonderful. On the streets? Vivambhara dsa: My father and Advaita prabhu distribute a lot of books in the Bay Area. There is also the Goloka distribution party, and rama Mahrja, Dmodara Mahrja, and Sajjana Mahrja are the best sannys-distributors. Vnd-dev ds: Gurudeva is the best. Jva-pvana dsa: You are doing it. We are only the instruments.3 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are some books being distributed here at this festival? Vivambhara dsa: At this festival in Hawaii, we sold over $5,000 worth of books. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Here? Vivambhara dsa: Yes. Over 2,000 books were distributed at this festival. Rma-knta prabhu and my sister Rdh did everything. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, thank you. Vnd-dev ds: Today is Madhukras birthday. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can each take a flower [for throwing petals upon the birthday devotee]. Magalam bhavatu, kalyam bhavatu May your birthday be auspicious. May you be happy in this world and in the transcendental world, and may vrajabhakti enter your heart.
ENDNOTES
1 An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Badger, California, June 2, 2002:
ymar ds: rla Gurudeva, you said in class that Brahm thought he had stolen the cows, but actually it was Yogamy who had done it. We conditioned souls think, I am doing something,
3 See Endnote 1.
17
but our activities are actually done by my (Kas deluding material potency). So, suppose I distribute a book and I think, Oh, Ive distributed a book. Who has really distributed the book? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Gurudeva has done it. How will you do it? You cannot do anything. You cannot even make one blade of dry grass. Guru gives energy to a disciple, but sometimes a disciple becomes bewildered and thinks, I am the doer. This wrong thinking influences that disciple to fall down. All of you must be very careful. Ramacandra dsa: Guru gives opportunity and capacity. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He gives both. He gives both the meal and the power to digest it.
18
19
January 2, 2007
sloka Class srl mad-Bhagavatam 11.17.27
crya m vijnyn nvamanyeta karhicit na martya-buddhysyeta sarva-deva-mayo guruh
[One should understand fully well the crya to be as good as Myself. He is My very svarpa (My expansion). At no time should one, out of envy, neglect or disrespect the guru as an ordinary mortal, nor should he be considered to have any faults, because r guru has the potency of all the demigods.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should remember this loka. Madhuvrata dsa: One time in Birmingham, in 2004, you said that guru is more than crya. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Madhuvrata dsa: Can you explain this again? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In that connection the word crya refers to one who can give upanayana (the ceremony of receiving the brhmaa thread). In India there are so many brhmaas who are only crya.1 They know the process of giving upanayana, but they are not guru. They do not practice ka-bhajana. Guru is more than that, and if he personally gives upanayana, that is still better; he is guru and also crya. But one can be crya without being guru. Guru gives transcendental knowledge, whereas one who is crya without being guru only knows the process of ceremony. Madhuvrata dsa: In our line, though, the crya must also be guru? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes.
1 crya is a homonym, which in this particular connection refers to a brhmaa
who can perform fire sacrifices and many varieties of ceremonies for giving saskras (impressions on the heart that come during Vedic ceremonies). crya also means one who follows rules and teaches others how to follow.
21
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: crya is included in guru. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Sometimes guru requests the crya to give upanayana. Sometimes I do that as well. Sometimes I only give the mantra, and I tell Mdhava Mahrja or others to give upanayana. [To Acyutnanda dsa] What is it that you are giving to me? Two chapters2? They have sent only two chapters? Acyutnanda dsa: Maybe more, I will see. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, take a look; and after taking rest I will work on them.

sloka Class srl Manah- . siks . a, Verse 3
yadccher vsam vraja-bhuvi sa-rgam prati-janur yuva-dvandva tac cet paricaritum rd abhilae svarpa r-rpa sa-gaam iha tasygrajam api sphua prem nitya smara nama tad tva u mana
[My dear mind, please hear me. If you are eager to gain residence in Vraja on the platform of rgtmik-bhakti, and if you desire to obtain the direct service of the eternally youthful Divine Couple, r Rdh-Ka, then birth after birth always distinctly remember and bow down with great love to r Svarpa Dmodara Gosvm, r Rpa Gosvm, and his elder brother r Santana Gosvm, and to all other associates of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, who are the recipients of His mercy.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? Madhuvrata dsa: O my dear mind, if you want to attain residence in Vrajabhmi with rgtmik-bhakti, and if you want to worship the divine couple, then, my dear mind, always remember and give
2 The two chapters are for his publication work.
22
North Shore
obeisances to Svarpa Dmodara, rla Rpa Gosvm, his elder brother, rla Santana Gosvm rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Crying bitterly, you should call out to Svarpa Dmodara, Rpa, and others. They will come and protect you. What will they protect you from? Madhuvrata dsa: Lust, anger rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why are we crying? We are praying, I cannot remove my kma (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), mada (pride), moha (illusion), and matsarya (envy) by myself. So, please come and remove it. Yadccher vsam. If you want to be in Vndvana, and if you want to serve Rdh and Ka on the path of rgnuga, then you must cry in this way. [To all the students present who recited and explained the loka] Very good; one loka per day. You are doing hard labor. [To Vrnd-dev ds] And you are giving delicious food to all. Brajanth dsa: Shes also doing hard labor. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, I know. Brajanth dsa: She wants to do more, but rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She is silent, not saying anything, but doing hard labor. Acyutnanda dsa: Guruj, there are so many stavas and stutis (hymns and prayers) and aakams (prayers consisting of eight verses) in our parampar. Of these, which are the most powerful? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, there are so many to Rdh, Ka, Mahprabhu, Vnd, Vndvana Acyutnanda dsa: But rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: First to guru, then to Nitynanda Prabhu, then to the all-merciful Caitanya Mahprabhu, then to rmat Rdhik. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Giri Govardhna. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is later. After Rdhik, then to Ka, then to Rdh and Ka together, then to Girirjaj, then to Yamun, Lalit, and Vikh.
23
Acyutnanda dsa: But rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: r-gaurga-gunuvarana-vidhau raddh-samddhy-anvitau ppottpa-nikntanau tanu-bht govinda-gnmtai nandmbudhi-vardhanaika-nipuau kaivalya-nistrakau vande rpa-santanau raghu-yugau r-jva-goplakau Sad-Gosvm-aakam (Verse 3)
[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvms, namely r Rpa Gosvm, r Santana Gosvm, r Raghuntha Bhaa Gosvm, r Raghuntha dsa Gosvm, r Jva Gosvm, and r Gopla Bhaa Gosvm, who are very much enriched in understanding of Lord Caitanya and who are thus expert in narrating His transcendental qualities. They can purify all conditioned souls from the reactions to their sinful activities by pouring upon them transcendental songs about Govinda. As such, they are very expert in increasing the limits of the ocean of transcendental bliss, and they are the saviors of the living entities from the devouring mouth of impersonal liberation.*]
And for Nitynanda Prabhu: sarac-candra-bhrnti sphurad-amala-knti gaja-gati hari-premonmatta dhta-parama-sattva smita-mukham sadghran-netra kara-kalita-vetra kali-bhida bhaje nitynanda bhajana-taru-kanda niravadhi Nitynandakam (Verse 1)
[I perpetually worship r Nitynanda Prabhu, the root of the ka-bhakti tree, whose bright face mocks the full autumn moon, whose pure complexion glistens, whose gait is like that of an intoxicated elephant, who is always mad in ka-prema, who is the personifiction of pure spiritual energy, whose face wears a gentle smile, whose eyes are always rolling due to His absorption in kaprema, whose lotus hand is beutified with a staff, and who, by the performance of nma-sakrtana, pierces the influence of Kali-yuga.]
24
North Shore
For Rdhik, r Rdh-kp-kaka, which begins with: munndra-vnda-vandite tri-loka-oka-hri prasanna-vaktra-pakaje nikuja-bh-vilsini vrajendra-bhnu-nandini vrajendra-snu-sagate kad kariyasha m kp-kaka-bhjanam?
[O rmat Rdhik! ukadeva, Nrada, Uddhava, and all the topmost munis are always offering prayers to Your lotus feet. Remembering You and praying for Your service miraculously removes all the miseries, sins, and offenses of the three spheres. Your joyful face blooms like a lotus and You delight in pastimes in the kujas of Vraja. You are the daughter of Vabhnu Mahrja and the dearly beloved of Vrajendra-nandana, with whom You always perform vilsa. When, oh when will You bestow upon me Your merciful sidelong glance?]
And for Ka, Nammi nanda-nandanam. Especially, there are so many prayers for Rdhik. Acyutnanda dsa: But if there is not so much time and I want to learn one rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can learn one at a time, and you will gradually remember them all.

rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: From time to time, Ka comes to this world to establish tm-dharma, or prema-dharma. He comes when Brahm and others pray to Him to take away the burden of the Earth. It is said that this human life is very rare; therefore we must engage this life in reya, activities which give the most auspiciousness. What is the loka? [To Acyutnanda dsa] Do you remember? Acyutnanda dsa: I think so.
25
labdhv su-durlabham ida bahu-sambhavnte manuyam artha-dam anityam apha dhrah tra yateta na pated anu-mrtyu yvan nihsreyasaya viayah khalu sarvata syt rmad-Bhgavatam (11.9.29)
[This human birth is very rare, because it is only attained after many lifetimes. Although temporary, it can give the highest benefit [the service of rmat Rdhik]. After all, sense gratification is available in all species [whereas spiritual perfection is possible only for human beings]. Therefore, an intelligent person should immediately, without wasting a single moment, begin to endeavor [with one-pointed dedication] to achieve the ultimate good fortune, before death comes.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You will have to very quickly learn all these lokas, as well as one, two, three, or four lokas from Gauya-kahahra3. Do you remember more verses of Mana-ik? Acyutnanda dsa: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Which one? Acyutnanda dsa: asad-vrt-vey visja mati-sarvasva-hara kath mukti-vyghry na u kila sarvtma-gilan api tyaktv lakm-pati-ratim ito vyoma-nayanm vraje rdh-kau sva-rati-mai-dau tva bhaja mana Mana-ik (Verse 4)
3 Gauya-kahahra (literally: A Necklace for the Gauya Vaiavas)
is a compilation of verses, collected by r Atndriya dsa Adhikr, one of rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkuras foremost disciples. In its foreword, written by rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura himself, the book is compared to a necklace, holding eighteen gems of tattva, or conclusive truths, such as guru-tattva (truths regarding r guru), jva-tattva (truths regarding the jva, or living entity), abhideya-tattva (truths regarding the process how to obtain the ultimate goal of life), and prayojana-tattva (truths regarding that ultimate goal). Prama-tattva, or truths regarding what is to be accepted as valid proof for all these truths, forms the pendant of the necklace, and the blessings of r guru are its central jewel.
26
North Shore
[O my dear brother mind! Please abandon altogether the prostitute of contemptible mundane talk, which plunders the entire treasure of pure wisdom. You must unequivocally give up hearing all talk of impersonal liberation which, like a tigress, devours your very soul. Furthermore, please abandon even the attachment to Lakmpati r Nryaa, which leads to Vaikuha. Rather, you should live in Vraja and worship r r Rdh-Ka, who bestow upon devotees the precious jewel of love for them.]
[Madhuvrata dsa begins to recite the verse] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want to hear a flow. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: No break. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? Acyutnanda dsa: Asad-vrt-vey visjam. The first line is saying that rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Not visjam; visja. Acyutnanda dsa: Visja, useless talk is rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is sad-vrt? Acyutnanda dsa: Ka-kath. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is asad-vrt? Acyutnanda dsa: Asad-vrt is like uh rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Mundane talks. Acyutnanda dsa: Mundane talks. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Asad-vrt refers to any kath (narration) other than that which is related to Ka or His devotees. You can continue. Acyutnanda dsa: Mati-sarvasva-hara. Such kath steals your intelligence. Kath mukti-vyghry na u kila sarvtma-gilan means that aspiring for mukti (liberation) and engaging in talks involved with mukti eat up your soul like a tiger.
27
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What? Acyutnanda dsa: Like a tiger. Mukti eats your soul. Brajanth dsa: Tigress. Acyutnanda dsa: Tigress. It can rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It can eat and swallow you. Acyutnanda dsa: Api tyaktv lakm-pati-ratim ito vyoma-nayanm. You also have to give up any attachment for Laksmi-Nryaa, because such talk leads you to Vaikuha. And, vraje rdh-kau sva-rati-mai-dau. O mind, please worship Rdh-Ka, for They will give you that rati (spiritual attachment). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Can you give me the other pages [of Gurudevas yet-unpublished Hindi manuscript] today? Acyutnanda dsa: Maybe in the afternoon. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Afternoon? You have not done any work on it.

asac-ce-kaa-prada-vikaa-plibhir iha prakma kmdi-prakaa-pathapti-vyatikarai gale baddhv hanye ham iti baka-bhid vartmapa-gae kuru tva phut-krn avati sa yath tva mana ita
[Lust, anger, and so on are a band of dacoits who assail one suddenly on the open road of material life. They have bound my neck licentiously with the torturous, dreadful ropes of wicked deeds and are thus killing me. O mind, speaking in this way, you must grievously cry out to the powerful and merciful devotees who are the protectors of the path of devotion leading to r Ka, the killer of Baksura. Hearing your piteous cry, they will surely protect you from such a condition.]
28
North Shore
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [After hearing Madhuvrata dsa speak the verse] Your utterance should be more clear; more fluent. What is the meaning? Madhuvrata dsa: Lust, anger, greed, madness, envy, and illusion are like six dacoits who attack me on the open road of material life. They bind my neck with the tortuous ropes of wicked deeds and deviate me from the path of bhakti. O mind, cry out piteously to the Vaiavas. They can surely protect me from such a situation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Tomorrow, try to chant the loka more fluently. Very good. Madhuvrata dsa: This loka is quite long, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But I am especially giving you this lesson, as it is essential for you to follow all of this in your life. Understand, and try to follow. There should be no kma. What is the meaning of kma? Madhuvrata dsa: Lust. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And anger. Can you control anger? You will have to control it. You can only have anger when someone criticizes your gurudeva, any pure Vaiava, Mahprabhu, or Rdh-Ka. Otherwise, if anyone is abusing or insulting you, then, oh, do not be angry. Vnd-dev ds: Maimat dd is writing to me and asking which mai, or jewel, you want. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Because her name begins with mai (meaning jewel), therefore she is asking this question. The real mai is prema-bhakti, but she is not able to give that. Anyone can give worldly jewels, but the only real jewel, or mai, is rdhka-prema. Tell her, Thank you. Brajanth dsa: Vnd is learning some lokas. Vnd-dev ds: Slowly. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can preach like ymar, but you are so busy with your other services to me. You are helping soooo much.
29

are ceta prodyat-kapaa-kuin-bhara-khara karan-mtre sntv dahasi katham tmnam api mm sad tva gndharv-giridhara-pada-prema-vilasat sudhmbhodhau sntv svam api nitar m ca sukhaya
[O wicked mind, although you adopt the path of sdhana, you imagine yourself purified by bathing in the trickling urine of the great donkey of full-blown deceit and hypocrisy. By doing so, you are simultaneously burning yourself and scorching me, a tiny jva. Stop this! Delight yourself and me by eternally bathing in the nectarean ocean of pure love for the lotus feet of r r RdhKa.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? Acyutnanda dsa: O mind, give up this donkey-urine, which is hypocrisy and deceit, and always bathe in the ocean of the nectar of Gndharvik-Giridhr. Madhuvrata dsa: O mind, although you adopt the path of sdhana, you still imagine yourself purified by bathing in the trickling donkeyurine of kui-n, or deceit. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning of donkeys urine-passing? Madhuvrata dsa: This means ignorance. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning of kuin? Madhuvrata dsa: Duplicity. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ku means bad. Ku refers to those who are not favorable to bhakti. Such persons association is considered as donkeys urine. O mind, you are thinking, By this urine, kui-n, I am very, very happy. It is actually burning poison, so you must give it up. Then? Regarding Rdh-Ka?
30
North Shore
Madhuvrata dsa: O mind, please always bathe in the nectar ocean of love for r r Rdh-Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Thus you will be happy, and you will always make me happy. I am requesting you to remember this loka so that you will follow all the teachings therein. rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvms instructions are very helpful for your bhakti. Tomorrow we will discuss more lokas. How many are there in Mana-ik? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Twelve. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In addition, I request that you study Gauya-kahahra.

Vnd-dev ds: In memorizing the Mana-ik lokas, I try to learn the English first. I want to know more lokas. I know lokas from before I met you, like vat sva-kath ka rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What you already know is sufficient nothing more to learn. You are Vnd-dev ds: Too old. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They [the other loka students present] should learn. Vnd-dev ds: But I still learn something. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is only necessary for you to learn the important lokas, like rdhyo bhagavn vrajea-tanayas tad-dhma vndvanam4. Brajanth dsa: She knows daa-mla5.
4 See Endnote 1, at the end of this chapter. 5 See Endnote 2, at the end of this chapter.
31
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ete ca-kal pusa Vnd-dev ds: Kas tu bhagavn svayam.6 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Labdhv su-durlabham ida bahu-sambhavnte.7 You can learn lokas like these. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: She knows daa-mla. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: All of it? [To the others present] What is the loka for today? Acyutnanda dsa: pratih dh vapaca-rama me hdi naet katha sdhu-prem spati ucir etan nanu mana sad tva sevasva prabhu-dayita-smantam atula yath t nikya tvaritam iha ta veayati sa Mana-ik (Verse 7)
[O mind, how can pure divine love appear in my heart as long as the shameless dog-eating, outcaste woman of the desire for prestige is audaciously dancing there? Therefore always remember and serve the immeasurably powerful commanders of the army of r Ka, the beloved devotees of the Lord. They will at once banish this outcaste woman and initiate the flow of immaculate vraja-prema in your heart.]
Madhuvrata dsa: Gurudeva, its stated in the purport that pratih, the desire for name and fame, is the root of all anarthas (thoughts and habits that are detrimental to bhakti). Can you please explain something about this? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Even when other bad qualities disappear, pratih remains because it is very deep in the heart. It will leave completely only when one is liberated from this world and has reached the stage of prema. Otherwise, it lives in the heart and can awaken by one means or another. Vndvana dsa: There is still something remaining as long as one has this body?
32
North Shore
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, as long as one has a body, something remains. It may be sleeping, but it can awaken at any time. Vnd-dev ds: Does pratih come when someone honors us, or is it always present? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Pratih first came when the jva became conditioned and began receiving material bodies, but it becomes gradually less, and less, and less as bhakti develops. It is due to pratih that anger arises. If there is no pratih, there will be no anger. Thus, pratih is the root of all evil. Madhuvrata dsa: Can it be used in Kas service? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. How can it possibly be used in Kas service? Only someone like rla Rpa Gosvm can do so. He offered pratih (respects) to others, even to those who were far inferior to him. We have heard that rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm hkura always addressed others, including his disciples, with the word pni. Brajanth dsa: The respectful form of you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He did this for all of his disciples, except for our guru mahrja and one other brahmacr. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Paramnanda prabhu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He addressed them with the word tuhi (the intimate form of you), but not any others. Brajantha dsa: Gurudeva, he used to offer others prama (obeisances). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Brajanth dsa: Other devotees therefore avoided doing prama in front of him [thinking that he would return the prama to them]. And he was the topmost paramahasa (self-realized soul). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He was not only paramahasa; he was the crown jewel of all paramahasas. Vnd-dev ds: So, pratih can be used by giving it to others, but never for oneself?
33
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: As bhakti increases, the mood of humility gradually manifests. For example, the quality of td api suncena, thinking oneself more humble than a blade of grass, is perfect only in Rdh, not in anyone else. rmat Rdhik prays, Na prema-gandho sti darpi me harau I do not have a drop, or even a scent, of prema. If I really had any prema, why did I not die in separation from Ka? A fish will die in a moment without water, but still I am living. Oh, fie on Me! Fie on Me!

mad-nthatve vraja-vipina-candra vraja-vanevar t-nthatve tad-atula-sakhtve tu lalitm vikh ikl-vitaraa-gurutve priya-sarogirndrau tat-prek-lalita-rati-datve smara mana
[O mind, always remember Vndnanacandra r Ka as the Lord of my Svmin r Rdhiks life, Vndvanevar rmat Rdhik as my mistress, r Lalit as the peerless friend of my Svmin, r Vikh as the instructing spiritual master in the arrangements of service rendered unto the Divine Couple, and r Rdhkua and Girirja-Govardhana as those who grant darana of r Rdh-Ka and bestow ecstatic love for Their lotus feet.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is our relation with Ka? What has been told in this verse? Madhuvrata dsa: We are maidservants of rmat Rdhik. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We are maidservants of rmat Rdhik. And what is our relation to Ka? He is near and dear to Rdhik. We do not have a direct relation with Him. This is what Raghuntha dsa Gosvm is telling us here. Rdhik is our ntha, our Svmin, or Mistress. And Lalit?
34
North Shore
Acyutnanda dsa: Lalit is Her dearest friend. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And Vikh? Acyutnanda dsa: She is Her ik-guru. She gives instruction like Her guru. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Vikh is not Her ik-guru. She is our ik-guru. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ours. What ik does she give? She instructs us how to serve Rdhik in all ways, from the beginning of the day to the end. She teaches how to only and always engage in services to rmat Rdhik. Madhuvrata dsa: As Rya Rmnanda, she also gives ik to r Caitanya Mahprabhu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What ik is she giving? Madhuvrata dsa: It is in Rya Rmnanda savda. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What ik is Vikh giving to Ka in the form of Mahprabhu? Madhuvrata dsa: She is teaching Him how to relish the moods of Rdhr. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She is teaching Him how to serve and please Rdhr.8 She is very dear to Rdhik. She is together with Rdhik practically twenty-four hours a day, whereas Ka is not. Sometimes Ka is performing pastimes with the cows and cowherd boys, and sometimes with His mother and father. He is sometimes separated from Rdhik, but Vikh is always with Her. Vikh is with Rdhik when She is sleeping, and when She is walking with Ka; so she knows. She can also sing so well. She is a master of all arts. Brajanth dsa: Tugavidy is also a good singer?
8 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja usually gives the same answer as Madhuvrata
dsa. We do not venture to understand or explain his deep mood when he uttered this sentence. We can only say that Vikh-dev is born on the same day as Rdhik and has the same qualities. As the daughter of Jails sister, she is also a relative of Rdhik. She knows how to please and serve Rdhik, and helps Ka to do so. Caitanya Mahprabhu is Ka Himself. (rpda Mdhava Mahrja)
35
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. She also knows about all kinds of medicines, and also the languages of all the animals and birds. Brajanth dsa: And Citra knows how to paint? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes.

[Acyutnanda dsa and Madhuvrata dsa recite and tell the meaning of the following verse:] sama r-rpea smara-vivaa-rdh-giribhtor vraje skt-sev-labhana-vidhaye tad-gaa-yujo tad-ijykhy-dhyna-ravaa-nati-pacmtam idam dhayan nty govardhanam anudina tva bhaja mana
[O my dear mind, in order to obtain the direct service of r r Rdh-Giridhr, who are always entranced by amorous desire, and the service of Their eternal associates in Vraja, you should drink the pacmta of service to Them in accordance with the method prescribed by r Rpa Gosvm. This pacmta is ambrosial nectar comprised of the following five ingredients: worship of r Yugala (arcana), chanting the glories of Their transcendental names, forms, qualities, and pastimes (sakrtana), meditating upon Them (dhyna), hearing the glories of Their names, forms, qualities, and pastimes (ravaa), and offering pramas unto Them. In addition you should worship r Govardhana daily in accordance with the precepts of bhakti.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This verse is important. It describes sdhana, the bhakti process. Acyutnanda dsa: What topic will you speak on at the Hawaii festival?
36
North Shore
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have not decided yet. My decision will depend on the audience. After this, you should learn the verses in Gauya-kahahra9, subject by subject. Then, when I ask you to speak something, especially the teachings of Prahlda Mahrja, you will be able to quote such verses as nai matis tvad urukramghri10. When Prahldas father had first asked him, What is the best thing you have learned in school? Prahlda replied with the verse beginning tat sdhu manye sura-varya dehin11. Then, when Hirayakaipu demanded of him, Oh, your teacher has taught you this? He never told you this. Why are you speaking in this way? Prahlda then replied with this verse beginning nai matis tvad. You will also be required to know what Prahlda was teaching the boys. Then, when you speak on prahlda-caritra, the life-history and character of Prahlda Mahrja, you will be able to quote these verses.

sloka Class srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.5.30 Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja
[The following few loka classes are in relation to the teachings of Prahlda Mahrja.] matir na ke parata svato v mitho bhipadyeta gha-vratnm adnta-gobhir viat tamisra puna puna carvita-carvanm
[Persons who are addicted to household life due to having uncontrolled senses, are entering into hellish life wherein they repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their consciousness cannot turn towards the
9 See footnote on page xxx. 10 See Endnote 5, at the end of this chapter. 11 See Endnote 6, at the end of this chapter.
37
service of r Ka either by their own understanding, by the instructions of others or by the combination of both.]
Madhuvrata dsa: Matir na ka parata svato v... rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Matir na ke. [Madhuvrata dsa continues to utter the verse with rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas assistance, and then Acyutnanda dsa utters the verse with his assistance.] Acyutnanda dsa: Uh rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: O Father Acyutnanda dsa: O Father, materialistic people are only chewing that which has been chewed. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? Acyutnanda dsa: UmI dont know. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What are they chewing? Madhuvrata dsa: The meaning is that ones father rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Fathers, forefathers, and others. Madhuvrata dsa: Theyve gone to college, earned money, gotten married, had children, gotten sick and then their son does exactly the same. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are not happy, they become old, and then they leave their bodies without taking anything with them. All materialists are like this. More? Acyutnanda dsa: Because they cant control their senses they enter the hellish material existence, and no other materialistic person can save them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who can help them? Acyutnanda dsa: Guru; sad-guru (a self-realized guru). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Sad-guru; Vaiava. You are chewing what your father, your grand-father and grandmother, their forefathers, and all other persons like them have 38
North Shore
chewed. They marry, children come, and one by one they all become old. They are not happy, and one day they give up this body without being able to take with them anything they have been collecting. You are chewing the same thing they chewed. They are foolish like dogs. If a dog finds a dry bone and begins chewing it, blood flows from his own teeth as he thinks, This is very salty and very tasty. Many other dogs see him relishing the bone, ferociously attack him, and relentlessly bite him until he gives up the bone and with his tail between his legs runs to the side. From there, that dog now watches and sees how the next dog grabs the dry bone, begins to bite it, and is also immediately attacked by all the other dogs. Everyone in this world is foolish like this,12 and a guru who is also foolish cannot help others to become free. Prahlda indicated to his demoniac father, Hirayakaipu, Gurus like aa and Amarka are of the same category as you. How, then, can they help you? Hirayakaipu replied, O foolish one, you are calling my gurudeva and me foolish? Prahlda replied by telling his father the next verse.

na te vidu svrtha-gati hi viu duray ye bahir-artha-mnina andh yathndhair upanyamns te pa-tantrym uru-dmni baddh
12 We are like this. Our fathers and forefathers have tried to take the juice of material enjoyment from this world, tasting only dry bone. If you ask your grandfathers, who are eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old, if they are happy with their lifes accomplishments, they will all say, No. When you ask, Why not? they will reply, I am now old. I can no longer enjoy the taste of wonderful food because I cannot digest anything I eat. I am going to die. I am not happy. Ironically, their children consider, Doing what we have seen our fathers and grandfathers do, we will now be very happy (rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. Lecture in Badger, California, on May 10, 1998).
39
[Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to give up this material life and engage in the service of Lord Viu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.*]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? Acyutnanda dsa: Persons who want to enjoy this external material world, and take as a guru someone who also wants to enjoy this material world, cannot understand that the goal of their life is to engage in service to r Viu. Just as someone blind follows another blind man, misses the path, and falls into a ditch, in the same way, someone who wants to enjoy this material world and accepts as guru someone who also does so, is tied by the ropes of this material existence. Brajanth dsa: He falls into a blind ditch. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning of urudmni baddh? Acyutnanda dsa: Very strong material ropes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is that? Acyutnanda dsa: Material existence. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will be happy; I will collect money; I will go to the heavenly planets. What are these convictions? They are the illusory my. What is the meaning of svrtha-gati hi viu? Madhuvrata dsa: They can never understand that the ultimate goal of life is to go back to Godhead, to Viu. In the same way that a blind person may follow another blind person, thus missing the correct path and falling into a ditch rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning of falling into a ditch? 40
North Shore
Madhuvrata dsa: It refers to birth and death. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Miseries; the endless pain of birth and death. Very good. Madhuvrata dsa: Most people think they are having a very nice time in the cycle of birth and death. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They dont know what is bhakti, who is Viu, who is Ka, who is the Supreme God. They know that there is God, but they have no attachment for Ka and do nothing for Him.

sloka Class srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.5.32, 7.6.1, 7.6.4, and 7.7.3031 Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja
nai matis tvad urukramghri spaty anarthpagamo yad-artha mahyas pda-rajo-bhieka nikicann na vta yvat rmad-Bhgavatam (7.5.32)
[Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Ka conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.*]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning of this loka? Acyutnanda dsa: When one smears his body with the foot-dust of the devotees of the Lord, who are free of material contamination and from attachment to material objects, only then can one come to the lotus feet of Lord Ka. 41
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: After that: kaumra caret prjo dharmn bhgavatn iha durlabha mnua janma tad apy adhruvam artha-dam rmad-Bhgavatam (7.6.1)
[Prahlda Mahrja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life in other words, from the tender age of childhood to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.*]
tat-prayso na kartavyo yata yur-vyaya param na tath vindate kema mukunda-carambujam rmad-Bhgavatam (7.6.4)
[Endeavors merely for sense gratification or material happiness through economic development are not to be performed, for they result only in a loss of time and energy, with no actual profit. If ones endeavors are directed toward Ka consciousness, one can surely attain the spiritual platform of self-realization. There is no such benefit from engaging oneself in economic development.*]
And after that: guru-uray bhakty sarva-labdhrpaena ca sagena sdhu-bhaktnm varrdhanena ca raddhay tat-kathy ca krtanair gua-karmam 42
North Shore
tat-pdmburuha-dhynt tal-ligekrhadibhi rmad-Bhgavatam (7.7.3031)

[One must accept the bona fide spiritual master and render service unto him with great devotion and faith. Whatever one has in ones possession should be offered to the spiritual master, and in the association of saintly persons and devotees one should worship the Lord, hear the glories of the Lord with faith, glorify the transcendental qualities and activities of the Lord, always meditate on the Lords lotus feet, and worship the Deity of the Lord strictly according to the injunctions of the stra and guru.*]
Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, Vnd is also learning a loka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What? Vnd-devi ds: Im learning a few, but then I forget a few words. [She recites a verse with Gurudevas assistance] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? Vnd-dev ds: Our worshipful Lord, r Ka, is the supreme object of worship. The Vrajavss, the gops, especially rmat Rdhr rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, better to say Nandanandana, Yaod-nandana, Rdh-knta, and Vrajendranandana. rdhyo bhagavn vrajea-tanayas. Our supreme worshipful object is the son of Nanda Mahrja. Nanda-tanu (the son of Nanda Mahrja) must be there in the explanation. If you only say Ka, it may refer to Vsudeva Ka. It should be explained like this: The son of Nanda Bb and Yaod Maiy, Vrajendra-nandana, is the supreme worshipable object. Vnd-dev ds: I am not finished learning it, so I cannot say. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Then, after that? Vnd-dev ds: Okay. The brides of Vraja, the gops, especially rmat Rdhr rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The second phrase is tad-dhma vndvanam. 43
Vnd-dev ds: As worshipful as Ka is, His dhma, Vndvanadhma, is also worshipful. Then, the brides of Vraja, the gops, and especially rmat Rdhr, express the highest love of Godhead, Ka. Then, rmad-bhgavata pramam the evidence is there in rmad-Bhgavatam. Then, after that I havent learned yet what comes next. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is r Caitanya Mahprabhu who is telling this verse. We should have respect and honor for His conclusion, not for the opinion of others. [To Acyutnanda dsa] I want all the manuscript pages of Catulok Bhgavatam. I will write the preface. Acyutnanda dsa: Okay. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Something is with me now. Keep what is with you for the time being, and later, when I need to work on more pages, I will ask you for that. Acyutnanda dsa: I gave you the corrections for Ujjvala-nlamai and Gaura-gaoddea-dpik. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will see them, and then I will write the preface for Gaura-gaoddea-dpik and Catu-lok Bhgavatam.

kaumra caret prjo dharmn bhgavatn iha durlabha mnua janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam
[r Prahlda said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life in other words, from the tender age of childhood to practice the activities of devotional service and giving up all other engagements. The human
44
North Shore
body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful and beneficial because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give a person complete perfection.*]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Acyutnanda dsa] Can you explain? Acyutnanda dsa: Human life is very rare. One who is intelligent should perform devotional service to Lord Hari, because even a small amount of devotional service gives one a great amount of benefit. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And what about the next important verse? Can you explain the verse beginning guruuray13? Acyutnanda dsa: One should approach the guru, worship him, offer all of ones material possessions unto him, stay in his residence, in his association, and worship Lord Hari. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why from the age of five? Will we not do so in old age? Acyutnanda dsa: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why not? Acytnanda dsa: Because uh rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We will all die. It may be that some die in the womb of their mother, some will die after ten years, and
13 guru-uray bhakty sarva-labdhrpaena ca sagena sdhu-bhaktnm varrdhanena ca raddhay tat-kathy ca krtanair gua-karmam tat-pdmburuha-dhynt tal-ligekrhadibhi rmad-Bhgavatam (7.7.3031) One must accept the bona fide spiritual master and render service unto him with great devotion and faith. Whatever one has in ones possession should be offered to the spiritual master, and in the association of saintly persons and devotees one should worship the Lord, hear the glories of the Lord with faith, glorify the transcendental qualities and activities of the Lord, always meditate on the Lords lotus feet, and worship the Deity of the Lord strictly according to the injunctions of the stra and guru.*
45
some after twenty years. There is no certainty when death will come. So, it is better to begin devotional activities from ones young age. Why should we not simply collect money to marry with a very beautiful lady, and have many sons and daughters of good character? Why not do all of this? Acyutnanda dsa: Because we have to leave all of these things when we die. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Should we not try to enjoy this world with our children, wives, and all other friends and relatives? Acyutnanda dsa: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why not? Acyutnanda dsa: Because it doesnt make a person happy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They do not give happiness. Rather, they are like enemies. They take all of our attachment, which should have been given to Ka. In the form of father, mother, son, daughter, and especially wife or husband, they are like dacoits. Prahlda Mahrja is saying that if your age duration is one hundred years, then fifty years goes in sleeping, twenty to twentyfive years for learning to be expert in making money, and from eighty to one hundred years old we are too old to do anything. Then, the remaining ten years goes to marrying, having daughters and sons, and supporting them. So, when will you do bhajana? It is better to perform bhajana from the beginning of your life. How to begin? First accept a guru and render service to him with a sense of an intimate relationship (virambhea), and then perform all your activities only for the pleasure of Ka. [Madhuvrata dsa, Brajanth dsa, and Vnd-dev ds recite the verse.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, very good, very good! Vnd is better than Brajanth. [To Vnd-dev ds] He made mistakes, but you made no mistakes. [Vnd-dev then explains the verse.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. [Taking the part of a materialist and challenging Vnd-dev ds] We will practice bhaktiyoga in old age. We should enjoy the world. Why should we learn bhakti from the beginning? Why perform bhakti from childhood? 46
North Shore
Vnd-dev ds: Because an old dog cannot learn new tricks. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good, thank you all. You should remember the loka of Vtsura. Vtsura was Citraketu Mahrja in his previous birth. He was a big king with thousands upon thousands of wives but no children, no son, and he was worried for this. Agir i came and asked him, Why are you so worried? He replied, I have no child. Please give me one child. Agir i tried to make him understand that no one can be happy by having a child. One can be happy only by chanting and remembering and worshiping God. But Citraketu said, Anyway, please give me a son. Can you give me one? Angira i said Yes. He gave the king some fruit and told him, Give this to your queen. A very beautiful son soon came, who was beautiful like the moon, and gradually that son became five years old. Now the king was always with his queen and son. He was ignoring all the other thousands of queens, and they became worried. They thought, He does not speak with us, he does not give us oil, cloth, or anything, and the reason is that son. So, they poisoned that boy and he died. When the king and queen saw what happened, they wept and fainted. All were weeping, and those who gave poison were also weeping to make a show. At that time, Agir i arrived with Nrada i and asked, Why is everyone weeping? Someone replied, They are weeping for their son. So they told the king, Oh, he is there; he is sleeping. The king replied, No, he has gone. Where has he gone? I see he is here lying down. Oh, his soul is gone. What harm is there if the soul is gone? Your son is there he whom you used to call son. If there is no soul present now, then how is he your son? Have you seen the soul? No. Then why are you weeping? Agir i and Nrada i then gave the king a mantra, and by this he became free from all material attachments and obtained spiritual realizations. In the kings next life he committed an offense at the lotus feet of akara (Lord Siva). Actually akara was his friend and he was only joking it was not actually an offence but Prvat-dev (the wife of akara) could not realize this and thus cursed him to become a demon. He thus became a demon, but he also remained a 47
pure devotee. He prayed while on the battlefield with Indra, when Indra was going to kill him14: aha hare tava pdaika-mla dsnudso bhavitsmi bhya mana smaretsu-pater gus te gta vk karma karotu kya rmad-Bhgavatam (6.11.24)
[O Lord, please bestow such mercy upon me, that in my next birth I may obtain the opportunity to exclusively serve the servants who have taken shelter of Your lotus feet. May my mind always remember Your all-auspicious qualities, my speech always chant the glories of these qualities, and my body always remain engaged in Your service.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should remember the four consecutive lokas, beginning with this one. Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, Nrada made the son come back to life? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, but the son said, I cannot come back to you, I am better where I am now. Who is my father? In a previous life, my father may have been my son.15 I dont want to be here. Where I am now, I have chance to do bhajana. Madhuvrata dsa: Was the son actually Agir i himself? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Because he had no son to give to the king, he came himself. He kept his body somewhere and his soul manufactured a body and became that son.16 Bas. [Thats all for today.]
14 See Endnote 7, at the end of this chapter. 15 By the mystic power of Nrada Muni, the living entity reentered his dead body for a short time and spoke in reply to Nrada Munis request. He said: According to the results of my fruitive activities, I, the living being, transmigrate from one body to another, sometimes going to th e species of the demigods, sometimes to the species of lower animals, sometimes among the vegetables, and sometimes to the human species. Therefore, in which birth were these my mother and father? No one is actually my mother and father. How can I accept these two people as my parents?* (rmad-Bhgavatam 6.16.4).
16 Agir i is one of the seven is (great sages) and he has all mystic powers; thus he can do anything he desires, even keeping his body somewhere else and adopting the body of the son of Queen and King Citraketu. (rpda Mdhava Mahrja)
48
North Shore

sloka Class srl mad-Bhagavatam 7.6.4 and 6.11.24
tat-prayso na kartavyo yata yur-vyaya param na tath vindate kema mukunda-carambujam rmad-Bhgavatam (7.6.4)
[Endeavors merely for sense gratification or material happiness through economic development are not to be performed, for they result only in a loss of time and energy, with no actual profit. If ones endeavors are directed toward Ka consciousness, one can surely attain the spiritual platform of self-realization. There is no such benefit from engaging oneself in economic development.*]
aha hare tava pdaika-mladsnudso bhavitsmi bhya mana smaretsu-pater gus te gta vk karma karotu kya rmad-Bhgavatam (6.11.24)
[O Lord, please bestow such mercy upon me, that in my next birth I may obtain the opportunity to exclusively serve the servants who have taken shelter of Your lotus feet. May my mind always remember Your all-auspicious qualities, my speech always chant the glories of these qualities, and my body always remain engaged in Your service.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who is praying? Acyutnanda dsa: Vtrsura. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who was Vtrsura? Acyutnanda dsa: Vtrsura was Citraketu Mahrja in his previous life. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why did he become a demon? Acyutnanda dsa: I dont know. 49
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I told this yesterday. It was due to the curse of Prvat. He was joking with his friend akara, but Prvat took his words very seriously. She took his words as an offence to akara. [Madhuvrata dsa recites and explains the two verses.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why should we not do anything to maintain ourselves, like making money and all related activities? Madhuvrata dsa: Because everything is coming from our previous activities. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Without wanting it, suffering comes; and if happiness is meant to be there, it will certainly also come. So we need not try to do anything for our happiness. Rather, we should engage only in mukunda-carambujam (worship of Krsnas lotus feet). Try to do bhajana. What does Mukunda mean here? Madhuvrata dsa: One who gives liberation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. He gives liberation from all sufferings, and He also gives prema. [To Brajanth dsa] Can you utter the lokas? Brajanth dsa: I have done only 50%. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What 50? Vnd-dev ds: We learned the lokas together, so he will speak. Brajanth dsa: Aha hare[some difficulty] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Vnd-dev ds] Help him. There are three things: body, tongue, and mind. If whatever we do by body, think by mind, and tell by words is engaged in Ka consciousness, then everything will be okay.
January 27, 2007

Dar sana
Acyutnanda dsa: I have a question. r Caitanya Mahprabhu says we should be humble: 50
North Shore
td api suncena taror api sahiun amnin mnadena krtanya sad hari r ikaka (Verse 3)
[Thinking oneself to be even lower and more worthless than insignificant grass that has been trampled beneath everyones feet, being more tolerant than a tree, being prideless and offering respect to everyone according to their respective positions, one should continuously chant the holy name of r Hari.]
How can we develop such qualities? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ka has given independence to all jvas to some degree, not fully and with that independence the jva may or may not do what Ka wants him to do. If a man wants to serve Ka, he is required to strictly follow the instructions in this verse, thinking, I should not be angry. I must follow td api suncena. This will bring bhakti. A person who wishes to advance in bhakti is never allowed to quarrel with anyone for his own gain. Bharata and r Rmacandra quarrelled with each other, but for what reason? Bharata told r Rma, I will not take the kingdom. You must take it. Rma replied, No, you should take it. They were quarrelling only for the purpose of giving, not for taking. On the other hand, Duryodhana and the Pavas were fighting for taking. I must attain love for Rdh and Ka. By following the principles of td api suncena (thinking oneself more insignificant and lowly than the straw in the street, etc.), I can attain Their service. When one develops this mood, he will strongly follow these principles. Read and follow Upademta. Amta means nectar. Why are these instructions (upadea) called nectar? It is because following them gives ka-bhakti up to rdh-dsyam (personal service to rmat Rdhik). Rdh-dsyam is the aim and object of our life and sdhana-bhajana. If one truly desires this attainment, he will follow Upademta. If we have everything in our life except bhakti, we really have nothing; whereas if we have only bhakti, our life is successful. There are two additional principles to follow: strictly reject what is not favorable for ka-bhakti and strongly accept what is 51
favorable. By such practice, anarthas will gradually diminish and you will become a pure bhakta. If a person is giving medical help to all jvas, is this good or bad? Acyutnanda dsa: It is good. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Is it favorable for bhakti, or not? Acyutnanda dsa: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you give medicine to a thief or murderer, thus making him healthy, he will again murder others. And what will happen to you? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Sin will come to me because I helped him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Gradually give up all other engagements and attachments, and become one-pointed to kabhajana and rdh-dsyam. Maintain this determination: I will not give a particle of my energy to anything else. api tyaktv lakm-pati-ratim ito vyoma-nayan vraje rdh-kau sva-rati-mai-dau tva bhaja mana Mana-ik (Verse 4)
[Furthermore, O mind, please abandon even the attach ment to Lakmpati r Nryaa, which leads to Vaikuha. Rather, live in Vraja and worship r r Rdh-Ka, who bestow upon devotees the precious jewel of Their rati (spiritual attachment).]
Give up even the worship of Nryaa, Dvrakda, and Mathurea, and give up the desire for vtsalya (service in the mood of Kas parent) and sakhya (the service of a friend). Keep only the Divine Couple r r Rdh-Ka in your heart, with a desire for direct service to rmat Rdhik. Vnd-dev ds: Gurudeva, if someone is a doctor by profession and is helping others to do sinful activities if that is his profession then what can he do to be free from the sinful reaction? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That person needs to somehow maintain himself. But we are not doctors, engineers, or any other profession, so how do we maintain ourselves? If one is a doctor by skill yet totally engages in bhajana, his maintenance will be automatically taken care of. 52
North Shore
Vnd-dev ds: If doctors give you their money, you will purify them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why should they not give their entire selves? Why give only money? One day they will have to give up that profession. Money means energy. Vnd-dev ds: So, if they give their money, will they get purified? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. If one has money, he should donate it for Kas service. Without my desiring money, so much money comes to me. I accept everyones money without any change in my consciousness, and I engage their money in beautiful, favorable works for Ka. For example, I use it for dhma-sev and for creating places for harikath. A person will then come and hear hari-kath and perform krtana, and he will advance in bhakti.
January 28, 2007

Dar sana
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: All scriptures state that sdhusaga only sdhu-saga, only sdhu-saga will save us from the endless pain of birth and death, and give ka-prema. Without sdhu-saga, pure nma will not come. By continual hearing, our heart will be cleared, and then pure bhakti will manifest in our hearts. Whether one is a doctor, engineer, advocate, the president or prime minister of a country, or anyone else he will suffer. On the other hand, anyone who is somehow maintaining his life and at the same time chanting and remembering and weeping, that person will very soon realize ka-prema. Navadvpa parikram is coming again. About 10,000 devotees will be gathered there, and hari-kath, krtana, and dancing, will take place. Even if an ignorant person goes to Vndvana-dhma, Navadvpa-dhma, or Pur-dhma and especially to Vndvana and Navadvpa the dhma, being very powerful, will shower its profuse mercy upon him. In our past births we committed many offenses, such as nmaapardha, sev-apardha, and vaiava-apardha, and that is why we 53
dont experience prema while chanting. When we go to Navadvpadhma, chanting and weeping, O Gaura, O Nitynanda Prabhu, O Dhma Prabhu, I surrender to you. Please be merciful to me, the dhma will shower its compassion. In fact, although they are the same tattva (truth), Navadvpa-dhma is even more merciful than Vndvana-dhma. Perhaps you have been there many times? Govinda ds (of Hawaii): Yes, many years ago. Ive been there several times, and I was there when rla Prabhupda was there. The last time I saw Prabhupda in this world was in Mypura. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In a village of Bengal, there was a lady who was a very, very good devotee. She used to go to Navadvpa-dhma every year. Her husband and sons told her, Each year you go to Navadvpa-dhma, so this year you need not go. Why are you going? One time is enough. She told her husband, We take prasdam, food, every day. Why do we need to take it every day? One day will suffice. Saying this, she at once left for Navadvpa. If you cannot physically go to the dhma, then be there by mind. If you are here, send your mind to Navadvpa with us, and your mind will do parikram. Govinda ds: I have no use for this mind. It gives me trouble day and night, so please take it to Navadvpa. Vnd-dev ds: Will that give the same benefit? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not the same, but some benefit will be there. Vnd-dev ds: Gurudeva, you have done this parikram so many times. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have been doing parikram since 1946. Once I was very sick and could not go; I only missed once. Brajanth dsa: In total, you went fifty-nine times. When the brahmacrs would want to go back by bus, you would pick up your daa [and show it to them in a motion of chastisement]. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To a Bengali guest] What is your age now? Hladin-akti ds: He had a stroke, so he has problems speaking. He is eighty-five. He is younger than you. 54
North Shore
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To the guest] In this old age you must chant, Hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare / hare rma hare rma rma rma hare hare, while eating, sleeping, going here and there, walking, or doing anything. You will certainly become happy, and you will be saved from birth and death. Only this holy name can save you. Vndvana dsa: Gurudeva, when you did parikram in the early years, did you go by foot, with tents, from one place to the next? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Two or three times we went by foot in Vndvana with Guru Mahrja, and in Navadvpa we went one time with tents to each island. We would live one day on one island one day here, and one day there. Once, in Campaka-haa, there was heavy rain; there was water everywhere. It was Ekds that day, and due to so much rain no one could even take Ekds prasdam. All were crying, What to do? I was seeing to their needs, and somehow we passed that night. Vnd-dev ds: Did you give them bananas and coconuts? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We could not give them anything. They took prasdam on the following day. Vndvana dsa: Should we do like that Gurudeva with tents? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Now there are 10,000 people. How can we do that? In the early days, there were four or fivehundred of us. For 10,000 people, tents will not fit anywhere. And what would happen if rain comes? Some rain will surely come. Svitr ds: Guru Mahrja, the devotees of ISKCON Bombay are teaching a one-week course on how to preach to new people. The course is called The Search For Happiness. Rasnanda prabhu [now rpda rdhara Mahrja] was teaching this to us in Vndvana, and I am studying it. I would like to follow the way in which they teach the course in ISKCON. It is a very simple way for people to connect and understand. I am studying and making outlines. I would like to maybe do this for our devotees. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, you can teach others also. Svitr ds: I would like to do this while traveling in different parts of the world. After I finished law school, I was teaching labor-law to many students in the university, and I was also running businesses. 55
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You are very qualified. You should boldly preach everywhere. Svitr ds: Gurudeva, Muslim people are so difficult to convince. They dont change their minds. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Somehow we must continue. So many devotees are joining in China and Russia. Hldin-akti ds (of Hawaii): Buddhists will be conquered by love for Ka. They have no love in their hearts. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are against bhakti more so than Myvds. They are simply absorbed in false logic, and therefore their numbers will increase as Kali-yuga advances.17 r Caitanya Mahprabhu came and spread Kas name, so this nmasakrtana will go everywhere. Haladhara dsa: Is the Ka who appears as Vsudeva in Mathur the same Ka who comes to Mathur from Vndvana and defeats Kasa? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The son of Devak and Vasudeva killed Kasa. By tattva, both are the same. By mood, Vrajendranandana Ka never comes to Mathur. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He never goes out of Vndvana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Mathurea Ka, the son of Devak and Vasudeva, killed Kasa. In fact, it was not He who killed Kasa, but Viu within His body who did it. Killing demons is the duty of viu-tattva. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Its stated in Caitanya-caritmta (dill 4.13): ataeva viu takhana kera arre viu-dvre kare ka asura-sahre
[At that time, therefore, Lord Viu is present in the body of Lord Ka, and Lord Ka kills the demons through Him.*]
Viu living within Ka destroyed the demons.

17 Whatever is not genuine will increase as Kali-yuga advances. Most Buddhists
today follow Gautama Buddha, who is not the incarnation of Ka. They have no proper scriptural siddhnta, and therefore they depend on false logic. (rpda Mdhava Mahrja)
56
North Shore
Hldin-akti ds: Does this include the demons He killed in Vndvana? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Haladara dsa: I have one question. Ka says, If you think of Me at the time of death, you will come to Me. If one wants to be the maidservant of r Rdhik, is it best to think of Ka, r Rdhik, or the bona fide guru? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The three are non-different. Without guru, you cannot do anything. Better to remember guru, through guru, Rdh and Ka, and within remembrance of Rdh and Ka, especially remember rdh-dsyam. Rdhe, Rdhe, Rdhe. You should preach very boldly.
January 30, 2007

Appearance Day of Nityananda Prabhu
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: During the rainy season in India, on guru-prim (vysa-prim), devotees of all sampradyas Rmnuja, Madhvcrya, Viusvm, Nimbditya, and even akarcrya worship rla Vysadeva. In r Caitanya Mahprabhus pastimes, as that day was approaching, Mahprabhu asked r Nitynanda Prabhu, Where will we perform Vysa-pj? rvsa Paita boldly said, I have all the paraphernalia for worship in my house, and I have the book that contains all procedures for the observance of Vysa-pj (Vysa-pj Paddhati). So, I request it be performed at my home. Mahprabhu then declared, Tomorrow will be Vysa-pj; everyone should come. The next day all of Mahprabhus associates came. Everything was ready, but Mahprabhu was purposely somewhat late in entering the area of the worship. rvsa Paita told r Nitynanda Prabhu, Mahprabhu is a little late, but we should begin. Please give the garland to rla Vysadeva and let us begin Vysa-pj. In an evasive way, Nitynanda Prabhu began to make the sounds hmm, hmm, and said, Im going to do it, Im going to do it. 57
Dar sana
When Mahprabhu finally arrived, rvsa hkura complained to Him, saying, Your rpda (Nitynanda Prabhu) is not performing Vysa-pj. Mahprabhu then approached Nitynanda Prabhu and told Him, O Nitynanda Prabhu, do it now. Now seeing Mahprabhu before Him, Nitynanda Prabhu took the garland and all the paraphernalia for worship, and offered them to Him to show everyone that He is the supreme guru. Mahprabhu is the guru of Vysa and all Vysas (all the Vysas that have appeared in the creation thus far). Thus, Nitynanda Prabhu declared that Mahprabhu is Ka Himself. While r Nitynanda Prabhu was traveling with Lakmpati throughout many of the pilgrimage places of India, after some time He came to Vndvana. There, He was searching and calling out, Where is Ka? Where is Ka? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Where is Kanhaiy, where is Kanhaiy? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He was caressing the cows and cowherd boys. He would run here and there, weeping like a mad person and calling out, Oh, where is My Ka? Where is Ka? Those who heard and saw Him ran away, thinking, Who is this person? He is totally mad. Actually He was totally mad. Then, one day an aerial voice called to Him, Nitynanda Prabhu, Your brother is not here now. He is in Navadvpa. He has taken birth there and is now in His youth. Nitynanda Prabhu at once left Vndvana and went to the border of Navadvpa-dhma, near the Ganges, where He hid Himself in the house of r Nandana crya. He considered, If Mahprabhu if Ka is here, and He will search for Me, only then will I know that He is really Nanda-nandana Ka; otherwise not. At that time, r Caitanya Mahprabhu was at rvsa-agana, and He told the devotees, A very great Vaiava has come to Navadvpa. Please go to Him and bring Him here. rvsa Paita and the other devotees searched everywhere, but they could not find Him. Then Mahprabhu said, Oh, I am coming. Let us find Him. When Mahprabhu and His associates arrived at the house of Nandana crya and entered there, Nitynanda Prabhu and Mahprabhu saw each other. This was their first meeting, and for some time they both simply stared at each other. They embraced, and both fainted. Mahprabhu later told rvsa Paita to recite a verse, which he uttered:
58
North Shore
barhpa naa-vara-vapu karayo karikra bibhrad vsa kanaka-kapia vaijayant ca mlm randhrn veor adhara-sudhayprayan gopa-vndair vndraya sva-pada-ramaa prviad gta-krti rmad-Bhgavatam (10.21.5)
[ymasundara is entering the forest of Vndvana accompanied by His cowherd boyfriends. He wears a peacock feather in His turban, a yellow karikra flower on His ears, a yellow-gold garment, and a victory garland strung with five kinds of fragrant forest flowers. Thus He displays His form as the greatest of dancers. The nectar of His lips flows through the holes of the flute [and thus the glorious vibrations of His flute-song echo throughout the forest groves]. Singing His glories, the cowherd boys follow from behind. In this way, r Vndvana-dhma [which is more charming than Vaikuha], becomes delighted by the touch of His lotus feet.]
Both the Lords then returned to external consciousness and began to dance. Mahprabhu told Nitynanda Prabhu, Oh, please come with Me, and brought Him to rvsa-agana. After that, Nitynanda Prabhu would sometimes reside at rvsa-agan with rvsa Paita and his family. Sometimes He would be naked, at which time He would sit on the lap of Mlindev, the wife of rvsa Paita, like a baby, and Mlin-dev would give Him her breast-milk. Once, r Nitynanda Prabhu took off His dhoti and put it on His head (as a turban), and in this way He went to acmts house, calling, Mother! Mother! I am very hungry! Then, totally absorbed in the mood of r Baladeva Prabhu, He searched for Ka, calling, Where is Kanhaiy? Mahprabhu then gave Nitynanda Prabhu His chaddar, personally wrapping it around Him, and acmt gave Him prasdam. Mlin-dev had a bowl rpda Mdhava Mahrja: A silver bowl. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A silver bowl that was full of ghee and was meant for offering to the Deity. Once a big crow came and flew away with the bowl, and Mlin-dev began to weep. Seeing
59
this, Nitynanda Prabhu called to the crow, Come on, come on. Bring back that pot! The crow at once came back with the bowl. r Nitynanda Prabhu was present when r Caitanya Mahprabhu took sannysa. After taking sannysa, Mahprabhu wanted to go to Vndvana, but Nitynanda Prabhu brought Him by a trick to Advaita-bhavana (the house of r Advaita crya) in ntipura. There, all the residents of Nadia, including acmt, came and met with Him. Nitynanda Prabhu broke Mahprabhus daa in Orissa, in a place that later became known as Daa-bhg-nad. He sometimes used to mock quarrel with r Advaita crya. Nitynanda Prabhu k jaya! rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Padmavt-dev k jaya! Hi Paita k jaya! Vivarpa Prabhu k jaya! ac Maiya k jaya! GauraNitynanda Prabhu k jaya! Gaura Premnande! Hari hari bol! rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Thank you for coming to hear. Brajantha dsa: Gurudeva, did r Vivarpa enter into Nitynanda Prabhu when He left the world? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In Gaura-gaoddea-dpik it is written that when Vivarpa disappeared, His power manifested in vara-purpda, and afterward, when r Nitynanda Prabhu met with Mahprabhu, Vivarpa manifested in Nitynanda Prabhu. Vnd-dev ds: I was discussing with Ratikal in Bali. You had given a couple of lectures on Nitynanda Prabhu there, and you were testing the devotees to see if they knew whether Nitynanda Prabhu can give gop-prema. Ratikal answered correctly. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: During the manifest pastimes of Mahprabhu, Nitynanda Prabhu married the two sisters, Vasudh and Jhav, who were none other than Revat and Vru, r Baladeva Prabhus wives during the pastimes of r Ka. When Nitynanda Prabhu married, many people became confused and did not want to honor Him as before. But Mahprabhu always respected Him, and told Him to preach in Bengal. In this regard Vndvana dsa hkura has said, If anyone, after hearing the glories of Nitynanda Prabhu, criticizes Him, I will kick that person on his head. Advaita crya had six sons. Three of his sons, Balarma, Svarpa, and Jagada, used to respect Mahprabhu and Advaita 60
North Shore
crya, but they were confused about Nitynanda Prabhu and did not honor Him. Advaita crya therefore rejected these sons, and accepted only Acyutnanda as his son. Gaura Premnande!
January 31, 2007

Morning Dar sana
Rdh-knta dsa: Gurudeva, what would you say is the most important quality for being effective in preaching the message of r Caitanya Mahprabhu? Is it humility, compassion, knowledge, bhakti, realization? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: bhrata-bhmite haila manuya janma yra janma srthaka kari kara para-upakra Caitanya-caritmta (Adi-ll 9.41)
[One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India (Bhrata-vara) should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.*]
Preaching involves thinking, All jvas in this world have forgotten Ka. r Caitanya Mahprabhu has said, and r Ka has said in the Bhagavad-gt, to first hear from gurudeva, and then, after hearing, perform krtana. Krtana means preaching, and in that there should be humility: td api suncena taror api sahiun amnin mnadena krtanya sad hari r ikaka (Verse 3)
[Thinking oneself to be even lower and more worthless than insignificant grass that has been trampled beneath everyones feet, being more tolerant than a tree, being prideless and offering respect to everyone according to their respective positions, one should continuously chant the holy name of r Hari.]
61
We should not think, I have become guru. Rather, Following the order of our gurudeva, we are preaching. You must know the instructions given by your gurudeva knowing all tattvas (established philosophical truths) such as katattva, jva-tattva, my-tattva, rdh-tattva, and the path out of my. How can a person preach if he doesnt know all tattvas? It is best to read the first and second sections of Jaiva-dharma for preaching, and the third section for following yourself; not for preaching.
January 31, 2007

Evening Dar sana
Brajanth dsa: The first question is about brahma-vimohana-ll. When all the cowherd boys were in mystic slumber for one year [and Krsna took their forms so that their mothers would not miss them and worry], in that year Ka [in the forms of those cowherd boys] married [was betrothed to] all the gops. After the cowherd boys came out from their mystic sleep, how did they understand that they had been married? That must have been a surprise for them. How do we reconcile that? Who explained to them that they were married? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is all due to Yogamy. All of Kas desires are fulfilled by Yogamy. The gops never thought, Ka is my husband, and the friends considered, This lady is my wife. Otherwise, how could there be parakya-bhva (the mood of a paramour)? Do you understand? Brajanth dsa: In that year, when Ka expanded Himself as all the cowherd boys, Gargamuni said, All the gopas should now marry with gops. At that time the young gopas and gops were promised to each other for marriage in the future. All the gops thought, I will marry this gopa in the future. When the gopas came out from their sleep caused by Brahm, did the gopas understand, or not understand, by Yogamys influence that they were going to marry this or that gop? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By the power of Yogamy they considered, She is my wife. Otherwise, there would be no parakyabhva. [To Amara dsa] Do you know the meaning of parakya? Amara dsa: Its when a married wife has love for another man. 62
North Shore
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: All the gops are Kas wives, in the sense that they are all His power as expansions of Rdhik. In this way, by the influence of Yogaymy, a special thing was manifest upapati-bhva, or paramour mood. Amara dsa: The gopas were not attracted to their wives. Brajanth dsa: In the gops there are four divisions: svapaka (those in Rdhiks party), vipaka (Rdhiks rival party), taasth (those who are neutral to Rdhiks party and friendly with Her rival party), and suht (those who are friendly to Rdhiks party and neutral to Her rival party). Is this division there in the sakhs also? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Their divisions are sakh, priyasakh, priya-narma sakh, and pra-sakh [also known as suhdasakh].18 Their divisions are not like those of the gops. All are svapaka to Ka. Brajanth dsa: Prabhu is saying that all the gopas are more attracted to Ka than to their wives. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It has been told that they used to worship their wives, because their wives fulfilled the desire of Ka. All would honor that person who loved Ka. Also, the mothers-in-law used to think, My daughter-in-law serves Ka. At the same time, in order to increase the eagerness of Ka and the gops, they acted like they were creating opposition. Amara dsa: The gopas are more attracted to Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not like their wives. Their wives were more attracted, and they served Ka more. Amara dsa: But the gopas are not as attracted to their wives as they are attracted to Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, that is right. Brajanth dsa: Prabhu is saying that the gopas may be na-pus (impotent). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, never. Only Abhimanyu, by the power of Yogamy, is impotent. By birth he was not impotent, but after he was married to the shadow of Rdhik, then he became so.
18The sakhs are the male friends, companions, and attendants of r Ka. See
Endnote 8, at the end of this chapter, for a description of the different groups.
63
February 2, 2007
sloka Class srl Caitanya-Caritam.rta, Madhya-ll la 20.117
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Madhuvrata dsa] Do you remember something? Madhuvrata dsa: A loka? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not a loka (the Sanskrit word for a Sanskrit verse); a payara (Bengali verse). Madhuvrata dsa: ka bhuli sei jva andi-bahirmukha ataeva my tre deya sasra-dukha Caitanya-caritmta (Madhya-ll 20.117)
[Forgetting Ka, the living entity has been attracted by the external feature from time immemorial. Therefore the illusory energy my gives him all kinds of misery in his material existence.*]
The conditioned soul, who is averse to Ka, has become enamored by material energy since time immemorial, and therefore my gives him unlimited suffering in the form of three-fold miseries. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: How does my give suffering to the jvas? Madhuvrata dsa: I dont know the loka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You will have to remember so many payaras. kabhu svarge, kabhu martye, narake v kabhu kabhu deva, kabhu daitya, kabhu dsa, prabhu Prema-vivarta (6.6)
[Sometimes he goes to heaven. Then, he has to come down to Earth again, or maybe he has to go to hell. Sometimes he is born as a deva (demigod), sometimes as a demon, sometimes as the master, and at other times as the servant.*]
64
North Shore
mi siddha ka dsa, ei kath bhule myra naphara ha cira-dina bule Prema-vivarta (6.4)
[The jva soul, having forgotten his constitutional position as the eternal perfect and pure servant of Ka, remains mys slave while going from one body to the next.*]
So many important truths are explained here. [To Vnd-dev ds] Do you remember something? [Vnd-dev recites and explains the same verse.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And others? Vnd-dev ds: I am trying to learn the next one, but Ill mix them up if I try to say more than one. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can tell Brajanth prabhu to speak. Vnd-dev ds: He knows the verses. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do you know them? Brajanth dsa: Ka bhuliyejva rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Brajanth buli [meaning Brajanth has forgotten]. tte ka bhaje, kare gurura sevana my-jla chue, pya kera caraa Caitanya-caritmta (Madhya-ll 22.25)
[In the Ka conscious state, the living entity engages in devotional service under the direction of the spiritual master. In this way he gets out of the clutches of my and takes shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Ka.*]
Without this, my will not leave us. We should remember this principle and try to be far away from my. What is my? Madhuvrata dsa: What is my? It is the external energy of the Lord. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the word-meaning of my?
65
Madhuvrata dsa: My means not this. M-y. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And what does that mean? Madhuvrata dsa: What appears to be real is actually illusory and temporary. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Mmm. [Pointing towards Vndvana dsa, who is standing close by] Who is he? Madhuvrata dsa: Vndvana dsa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Whose building is this? Madhuvrata dsa: It belongs to Vndvana dsa, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who are you? Madhuvrata dsa: Madhuvrata dsa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Madhuvrata? Madhuvrata dsa: I dont know who I am, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Whose coat is this? Madhuvrata dsa: It is your coat. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is all my the illusory my. Madhuvrata dsa: I and mine. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: M means not and y means this. What is not, we think to be real. He thinks, This is my wife. This is my. He is the eternal servant of Ka. Madhuvrata dsa: I have no realization of this, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Hare Ka, Hare Ka. If you know everything about bhakti-stras but you are not realizing or following, then internally you are in my. Moreover, externally you will later on accept my. For example, Prema-prayojana knew so many things, so many things, but what became of him? What will happen if a person is not following and at the same time speaks harikath to others? This is the influence of the illusory my. Then, where will you be as the hearer? Thus, my is not so easy to give up. When we surrender completely to guru and Ka, then we can give her up. Those who have partly surrendered who are surrendered by words but not 66
North Shore
by activities, mind, and soul are in my. Though we are giving a chance to all, those who follow will be saved and those who do not follow will remain in this world of birth and death. We followed our gurudeva with aragati (the six limbs of surrender), and that is why we are saved. Thank you. [To Acyutnanda dsa] Can you give me some work [regarding my Hindi manuscripts] today? Acyutnanda dsa: Yeah, maybe later. Brajanth dsa: Your dictation from yesterday. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You have made this ready? Acyutnanda dsa: Not yet. I have yet to do it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: All right, so do it. Have they sent something?19 Acyutnanda dsa: I dont think so. Vndvana dsa: Gurudeva, you said that if we are not surrendering our mind and soul to guru, then after some time we wont be able to maintain the facade of being a devotee? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, this is quite true. I can give guidance and tell them what to do, but they will have to follow. I cannot walk for them. They will have to walk. Hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare / hare rma hare rma rma rma hare hare.
ENDNOTES
1
rdhyo bhagavn vrajea-tanayas tad-dhma vdvana ramy kcid upsan vraja-vadhvarge y kalpit
19 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja mercifully engaged many devotees in his publication work, and then he would correct the texts they sent from India. Acyutnanda dsa and his other assistants managed his inflow of work, keeping efficient communication with all devotees involved, and printing hard copies of the manuscripts for him to correct. Acyutnanda dsa would enter all his corrections into computer files and transcribe dictations. On occasion, when not much work arrived, he would spend some time reading rmad-Bhgavatam or Caitanya-caritmta. On the rare occasions when no work arrived, he would express his unhappiness by saying things like, I have no desire to stay in this world if I cannot write.
67
rmad-bhgavata pramam amala prem pumartho mahn r-caitanya-mahprabhor matam ida tatrdaro na para
Vrajendra-nandana r Ka is our exclusive object of worship and love. In the same way that He is worshipful, so is His transcendental abode, r Vndvana-dhma. The mood in which the young brides of Vraja [the gops, headed by rmat Rdhik] worship Him is the highest and ultimate form of love of God. rmad-Bhgavatam alone is the immaculate scriptural evidence of this. Kaprema is the supreme objective of life [beyond mundane religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and impersonal liberation]. This is the conception of r Caitanya Mahprabhu (gaura-v). We hold this conclusion (siddhnta) in supreme regard [and have no inclination or respect for any other conclusion or cheating opinions].
ten roots. In the Ayur-veda, the science of herbal medicine, there are ten roots which, when combined together, produce a tonic which sustains life and counteracts disease. Similarly, there are ten ontological principles. When these are properly understood and realized, they destroy the disease of material existence and give life to the soul. The first of these principles is known as prama, the evidence which establishes the existence of the fundamental truths. The other nine principles are known as prameya, the truths which are to be established.
3
2Daa-mla
ete ca-kal pusa kas tu bhagavn svayam rmad-Bhgavatam (1.3.28)

All avatras (incarnations) such as r Rmacandra and Nsihadeva are the plenary portions, or expansions of the plenary portions, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, r Ka is Svayam Bhagavn, the embodiment of six opulences and the original fountainhead of everything.
68
North Shore
4
labdhv su-durlabham ida bahu-sambhavnte mnuyam artha-dam anityam apha dhra tra yateta na pated anu-mtyu yvan nireyasya viaya khalu sarvata syt rmad-Bhgavatam (11.9.29)
This human birth is very rare, because it is only attained after many lifetimes. Although temporary, it can give the highest benefit [the service of rmat Rdhik]. After all, sense gratification is available in all species [whereas spiritual perfection is possible only for human beings]. Therefore, an intelligent person should immediately, without wasting a single moment, begin to endeavor [with one-pointed dedication] to achieve the ultimate good fortune, before death comes.
nai matis tvad urukramghri spaty anarthpagamo yad-artha mahyas pda-rajo-bhieka nikincann na vta yvat rmad-Bhgavatam (7.5.32)
Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Ka conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.*
tat sdhu manye sura-varya dehin sad samudvigna-dhiym asad-graht hitvtma-pta gham andha-kpa vana gato yad dharim rayeta rmad-Bhgavatam (7.5.5)
[Prahlda Mahrja replied to his father:] O best of the asuras, King of the demons, any person who has accepted
69
the temporary body as real is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen into the dark well of family life [or the bodily concept of life] where there is no water [rasa] but only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest to take shelter of r Hari.*
Excerpt from a class on rmad-Bhgavatam by r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja in Mathur, India, 1994: Many of us think that Citraketu Mahrja had committed some offence and that is why he became a demon. This is not so. Citraketu Mahrja is a completely liberated soul and is the disciple of Sakaraa. He performed his pastime as Vtsura to teach the world. The story goes like this. akara (Lord iva) was his friend and godbrother. This librated mah-purua once came to Kaila. At that time akaraj was speaking hari-kath. The beautiful Prvat was sitting on his lap and Lord iva had his arm around her neck. He was wearing a dor-kaupn of snakes. He also ornaments himself with snakes. Citraketu Mahrja came, and seeing his friend akaraj like this, he laughed, Why are you sitting with Prvat on your lap while speaking hari-kath? Why are you doing this? Does anybody act like this? In front of this assembly of so many is and munis you are making your wife look like a sense enjoyer. This is not proper. Saying this, Citraketu Mahrja laughed. akaraj also smiled but Prvat was perturbed. Unable to tolerate Citraketus words she cursed him, You should become a demon. Are you trying to be the guru of Lord iva? Brahm and so many other demigods accept his authority and now you are giving him instructions? By this you are insulting him. akaraj did not feel affronted, but Prvat took Citraketu Mahrjas words as an insult. As Citraketu Mahrja was his friend, ivaj understood why he had spoken in that way. To show that one should not insult a Vaiava, Prvat cursed her husbands friend. Citraketu Mahrja was highly qualified and powerful enough that he could have counteracted her curse, if he had wanted. But to keep the word of Lord ivas dearmost beloved Prvat-dev, he accepted her curse without any complaint. akaraj then said to her, O Prvat, what have you done? You dont know that mahpuruas like Citraketu Mahrja may stay in hell or in heaven, they may become a demigod or a demon, they may accept any kind of 70
North Shore
form! For them it does not make any difference, because wherever they stay, they always perform harinma-sakrtana and bhakti for the lotus feet of r Hari. But by your giving this curse, now I can understand what your mentality is.
8
The following is an excerpt from Jaiva-dharma, Chapter 29:
There are four types of sakhs in Vraja: (1) suht, (2) sakh, (3) priya-sakh, and (4) priya-narma-sakh. The suht-sakhs are somewhat older than Ka, and they have some vtsalyabhva (parental mood) mixed in their moods towards Him. They carry weapons, and always protect Ka from miscreants. They include Subhadra, Maalbhadra, Bhadravardhana, Gobhaa, Yaka, Indrabhaa, Bhadrga, Vrabhadra, Mahgua, Vijaya and Balabhadra. Maalbhadra and Balabhadra are the most prominent among them. The sakhs are somewhat younger than Ka, and their mood of friendship is alloyed with a touch of dsya-bhva (servitorship). They include Vila, Vabha, Ojasv, Devaprastha, Varthapa, Maranda, Kusumpa, Maibaddha and Karandhama. Devaprastha is the best of these. The priya-sakhs are friends of the same age as Ka with unalloyed sakhya-bhva (mood of friendship). These include rdma, Sudma, Dma, Vasudma, Kiki, Stoka-Ka, Au, Bhadrasena, Vils, Puarka, Vitaka and Kalavika. Kas priya-narma-sakhs are superior to the three other groups of sakhs namely the suht-sakhs, the sakhs, and the priyasakhs and they are expert at performing extremely confidential activities. They include Subala, Arjuna, Gandharva, Vasanta and Ujjvala, who always speaks joking words.
71
73
Navadv pa
March (undated), 2007

Dar sana
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: When r Caitanya Mahprabhu was dancing in rvsa-agana and performing His other navadvpall, He fulfilled His [r Kas] three desires: r rdhy praayamahim kdo vnayaiv1. Is it that His going to Pur and Godvar was for teaching the jva souls how to follow this path? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is not like that. He was playing sweet pastimes in Navadvpa, and He tasted all these moods [the fulfillment of His desires] in Pur, in the Gambhr, with r Rya Rmnanda and r Svarpa Dmodara. In Navadvpa He enjoyed His blya-ll (baby and early childhood pastimes) and then His paugaa-ll (early youth pastimes) of teaching. Afterwards He went to Gay, where He changed,2 and later He went to Jaganntha Pur. He especially learned Rdhs mood when He went to Godvar and accepted Rya Rmnanda, who is Vikh-sakh, as His ik-guru. After that He again went to Jaganntha Pur, and there He tasted these three moods. [This is described in r Caitanya-caritmta, di-ll 13.26-39.] rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: If I understood you correctly, it was by r Caitanya Mahprabhus complete ll in Navadvpa, Pur, and Godvar that He became completely fulfilled. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But always remember that navadvpa-ll is aa-klya-ll, which is not true for Pur or Godvar. Navadvpa-ll is prominent. In Godvar He manifested His form as rasarja-mahbhva-svarpa and told the highest kath to Rya Rmnanda; yet, Godvar is not Vndvana. Godvar is like Kuruketra, and Jaganntha Pur is like Dvrak. Only the pastimes of r Caitanya Mahprabhu in Navadvpa appear in the category of aa-klya-ll. This is likened to Kas aaklya-ll, in which there is no killing of demons, no mathur-ll, and no dvrak-ll; only His eternal vndvana-lls are present there. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva told in his class that in Kas aa-klya-ll, Mathur or Dvrak have no place. In the same way, in r Caitanya Mahprabhus aa-klya-ll, Puri and Godvar have no place.
75
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Do you mean in nitya-dhma (the spiritual world)? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In rman-Mahprabhor aaklya-ll-smaraa-magala-stotram and r Ka-bhvanmta, rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura has connected the sweet pastimes of r Caitanya Mahprabhu with Kas aa-klya-ll. First Mahprabhu is meditated upon, and then Ka.3 rpda rama Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, in Navadvpa, r Caitanya Mahprabhus mood is like that of Vabhnu-nandin [rmat Rdhik enjoying aa-klya-ll with Ka in Vndvana]? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. rpda rama Mahrja: So my question is this: rmat Rdhik is tasting mdankhya-mahbhva in Vndvana, at Prema-sarovara, and Rdh-kua. So, is Mahprabhu also tasting mdankhyamahbhva here in Navadvpa? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, but not externally. Inside. rpda rama Mahrja: Is He tasting them in rvsa-agana, or all the time? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: In Navadvpa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The devotee in his aa-klyall meditation will see Mahprabhu always here in Navadvpadhma, in Mypura. Mahprabhu never leaves Navadvpa, just as Ka never leaves Vndvana. Vndvana parityajya padam eka na gacchati. Mahprabhu never goes for a moment out of Navadvpa. rpda rama Mahrja: In which ll is Mahprabhu tasting mdankhya-mahbhva in Navadvpa? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Mdankhya-mahbhva was in Mahprabhu in Navadvpa, but it was not manifested. It manifested in Jaganntha Pur, and especially in the Gambhr. rpda Vaikhanas Mahrja: In the Gambhr, Mahprabhu tasted the mood of Viyogin-Rdhik. Does He experience mdankhyabhva there?
3 See Endnote 3, at the end of this chapter.
76
Navadv pa
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, mdankhya-mahbhva is there. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Mahprabhu is the vipralambhasvarpa, the embodiment of separation mood. But He manifested the extreme symptoms of separation mostly in Puri rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When Mahprabhu returned to Navadvpa from Gay, He also manifested so many symptoms that were just like those of Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik.4 Thank you for your questions. Brajanth dsa: One of the devotees is asking what is the qualification for meditating on the aa-klya-ll of r Caitanya Mahprabhu? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Such qualification comes after ruci5, not before. It comes especially in sakti6. Otherwise, if one tries to prematurely engage in such meditation, he will become lusty. Brajanth dsa: But he is speaking about Mahprabhus aa-klya-ll. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: In rman Mahprabhus aa-klyall, Mahprabhu is remembering Rdh-Kas pastimes; that is the point. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Both are non-different. St ds (of England): You said that Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik in Vndvana is Kas full hldin-akti, but when She goes to Uddhava-kyr, She is in the mood of separation (Viyogin-Rdh). Uddhava-kyr is in Vndvana, though. So why is Rdhik not full hldin-akti there? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Because She is displaying Her viyogin (separation) mood there.7
4 See Endnote 4, at the end of this chapter. 5 Ruci, or taste, is the sixth stage in the development of the creeper of devotion, which develops after one has acquired steadiness in bhajana. At this stage, with the awakening of actual taste, ones attraction to spiritual matters, such as hearing, chanting and other devotional practices, exceeds ones attraction to any type of material activity. 6 sakti is deep attachment for the Lord and His eternal associates. sakti occurs
when ones liking for bhajana leads to a direct attachment for the person who is the object of that bhajana. This is the seventh stage in the development of the creeper of devotion, and it is awakened upon the maturing of ones taste for bhajana.
77
The pastimes of Nandagaon are divided into two parts. Ka was living in Nanda-bhavana after He and His family left Gokula. There He would go cowherding, and the gops, who were experiencing separation from Him, would go from Jvaa and meet Him at Uddhava-kyr (a part of Nandagaon). At that time, all of rmat Rdhiks moods as Vabhnu-nandin would manifest. Uddhavakyr, where Vikh-kua and rsa-ll-sthal are situated, is one of the meeting places. Later, when Ka left the gops and went to Mathur, Uddhavakyr became a place of separation moods, and Rdhik became Viyogin-Rdh there. In this way Uddhava-kyr is a place of both meeting and separation; first meeting and then separation. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Is the worship of Gaura-Gaddhara for devotees at a particular stage, or only for particular devotees like rla Bhaktivinoda hkura? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja and rpda Mdhava Mahrja discuss in Bengali and then Mdhava Mahrja translates in English] rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva says that rla Bhaktivinoda hkura has written that there is no difference between GauraGaddhara and Rdh-Ka, just as there is no difference between Navadvpa-dhma and Vndvana-dhma. rla Bhaktivinoda hkura has even told that through the ka-mantra one can serve Gaura-Gaddhara and through the gaura-mantra one can serve the Divine Couple. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Gaura-premnande. Chant mah-mantra. [Krtana]
ENDNOTES
1 Desiring to understand the glory of Rdhrs love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of rmat ac-dev, as the moon appeared from the ocean* (r Caitanya-caritmta, di-ll 1.6).
78
Navadv pa
[Some atheistic Hindus told Chand Kazi:] Nimi Paita was previously a very good boy, but since He has returned from Gay He conducts Himself differently. Now He loudly sings all kinds of songs, claps, and plays drums and hand cymbals, making a tumultuous sound that deafens our ears. We do not know what He eats that makes Him become mad, dancing, singing, sometimes laughing, crying, falling down, jumping up, and rolling on the ground. He has made all the people practically mad by always performing congregational chanting. At night we cannot get any sleep; we are always kept awake. Now He has given up His own name Nimi and introduced Himself by the name Gaurahari. He has spoiled the Hindu religious principles and introduced the irreligion of non-believers. Now the lower classes are chanting the Hare Ka mah-mantra again and again. For this sinful activity, the entire city of Navadvpa will become deserted* (r Caitanya-caritmta, di-ll 17.207212). r Gaurga, the Moon over Navadvpa, is manifest in His own abode during eight periods of each day and every day. His pastimes should be remembered by meditative devotees before they remember the pastimes of r Ka, the Moon over Gokula. If someone lovingly reads or recites the Lords eternal daily pastimes as they are illuminated in the ten verses of this prayer, then the Lord is immensely pleased with that person, by His own merciful compassion. I thus meditate on the daily pastimes of r Gauracandra (rman-Mahprabhor aa-klya-ll-smaraa-magala-stotram: Auspicious prayers for remembering the eight-fold daily pastimes of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, Verse 10).
4 3
An excerpt from a morning walk in Alachua, Florida, May 3, 2008:
Raghuntha Bhaa dsa: rla Gurudeva, I have a question. Yesterday, Brajanth prabhu mentioned in his speech that when Ka leaves Vraja and goes to Mathur, He becomes Mathurea Ka, and when He goes to Dvrak He becomes Dvrakdha Ka. So, when rmn Mahprabhu leaves Navadvpa and goes to South India or other places, is it a similar situation for Him? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is asking if Mahprabhu would become Nlcala Mahprabhu or Gambhr Mahprabhu.
79
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. In the form of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, Ka took the beauty and intrinsic mood of rmat Rdhik so that He would be able to taste the fulfillment of His three desires. That is why He became r acnandana Gaurahari. One may say that He is comparable to Dvrakdha-Ka when He goes to Pur, but that is not the fact. Rather, Mahprabhu was relishing Ka of Vndvana. Moreover, this question is not proper. There is something wrong in the question itself. r Caitanya Mahprabhu is Ka, but He is Ka who has taken the beauty of rmat Rdhik and who is tasting the glory of Her love. We should therefore think about Mahprabhus moods in relation to Rdhik. He cannot be addressed as Pur Mahprabhu or any similar name. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is understood according to Rdhiks moods, not Kas moods. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In the pastimes of Mahprabhu, Ka is not Ka. He is totally absorbed in rmat Rdhik, thinking, I am Rdhik. There is no need to think about r Caitanya Mahprabhu in relation to the moods of Ka. rmat Rdhik does not go out of Vndvana for even one moment; and Ka, in His original, complete feature, also does not leave. Her original and complete feature, always residing in Vndvana, is Vabhnu-nandin Rdh. When Rdhik is in Nandagaon and lamenting in separation from Ka when He (His manifestation) went to Dvrak, She is Viyogin-Rdh. Therefore, when Mahprabhu is in Jaganntha Pur (which represents Dvrak), He is in the mood of ViyoginRdh. When Rdhik meets Ka at Kuruketra She is SayognRdh, and when Mahprabhu is on the bank of Godvar with Rmnanda Rya, He is in the mood of that Sayogn-Rdh. In Navadvpa, which is hidden Vndvana, Mahprabhu is in the mood of Vabhnu-nandin Rdh. Mahprabhu actually never leaves Navadvpa, which has been told in stra to be the same as Vndvana. The twelve forests of Vndvana are in Navadvpa. Neither Jaganntha Pur nor Godvar have been told to be the same as Vndvana. Sugata dsa: What is the internal reason that r Caitanya Mahprabhu did not stay long in Vndvana? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When He was in Vndvana, He would see Govardhana and Yamun and other stimulus for His 80
Navadv pa
thinking, I am Ka, and I performed so many sweet pastimes here. He did not want this mood to envelop Him. He did not want His mood as Mahprabhu to disappear. He therefore quickly returned to Pur. An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture on March 25, 2001, in Navadvpa, India: rmat Rdhik is the highest shelter of prema, and She Herself has three aspects. One aspect is the root, and the other two are Her expansions. In Vndvana, especially in Govardhana, Nandagaon, Var, Rdh-kua, yma-kua, and similar places, She is Vabhnu-nandin. She is the root, and She includes Her expansions as well. She never leaves Vndvana. In Nandagaon (Uddhava-kyr) She is Viyogin-Rdh after Ka went to Mathur. The astonishing madness of separation She experienced as Viyogin-Rdh is recorded in Bhramara-gta. As Sayogn-Rdh, She spent three months in Kuruketra, where She met with r Ka. Although this is the aspect of Rdhik who meets with Ka at Kuruketra, Her desire cannot be fulfilled there; She wants to go back to Vndvana. It is the same Ka there in Kuruketra, but in a different dress. There is no flute in His hand and no peacock feather crown; He is not Yaod-nandana, Nandanandana, Rdh-knta; He is not addressed by those names. The mood there is very different, because there are so many elephants, horses, and a huge army, and Vasudeva and Devak and all their associates are present. There is no forest like Vndvana there, no Yamun, no peacocks, and no deer. rmat Rdhik tells r Ka, My heart is not satisfied. There is not even one drop of the ocean of rasa of Vndvana here in Kuruketra. I dont want to be here. Ka tells Her, You should meditate, and You will realize that You are always with Me. If You meditate, My lotus feet will appear in Your heart. She replies, My heart and mind are the same, and my mind is Vndvana. So You should come to Vndvana. This is the meaning of Ratha-ytr. The ratha-cart is the chariot of Rdhiks mind, the chariot of Rdhiks desire, taking r Ka back to Vndvana, back to Vraja (represented by the Guic temple). Sayogn means that there is samyoga, a meeting between Rdh and Ka, but Rdhik wants to go back to Vndvana. She wants to return 81
5
to the forest of Vetas trees; that is, the forest of Kadamba trees, the forest which is fragrant with beli, cmeli, and juh flowers. She wants to take Ka there. So, first Rdhik is Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik. Second She is Viyogin-Rdhik, who is always in a separation mood and absorbed in citrajalpa, prajalpa, divyonmda, and other such bhvas of separation. And in Kuruketra She is Sayogn-Rdh. Sayogn-Rdhik is meeting with Ka, but there is no happiness because all the sweet stimuli of Vndvana are missing. Kuruketra is filled with many outside elements that are contrary to vraja-prema. Therefore, Rdhik situates Ka on the chariot of Her mind and, along with all the other gops, brings r Ka back to Vndvana. This is the meaning of Ratha-ytr, and these are the moods Mahprabhu relished in Jaganntha Pur.
82
83
Kuala Lumpur
April 17, 2007

Dar sana
Brajanth dsa: He took harinma initiation from an ISKCON guru, and he wants to take dk from you tomorrow. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is best that he first hears my classes and examines whether or not I am a qualified guru. If I am not qualified, he should reject me as guru; and if I am qualified, then he may take initiation. This examination period is required because a devotee has to give his entire life to his guru. If the guru is not qualified and thus falls down, the disciple becomes hopeless. It is therefore a rule and regulation in our guru-parampar to test the guru first. The guru should examine the disciple, and the disciple should also examine the guru in order to insure that he is accepting a guru who will never fall down. Brajanth dsa: Mypura-candra prabhu is from Bali. He is your disciple. His wife does not accept his being a devotee, but his children do. He wants to receive dk and advance further in bhakti. What should he do? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He should take dk. He should not spoil his life for a worldly wife and others, because they cannot help him to attain the transcendental world. If his wife is not a devotee and she tries to give some obstruction or problem, then better he not stay with her. On the other hand, even if she does not accept what he is doing, but she does not create any problems for him, then he should take dk and live with her. He will try to change her, and if she comes to me, she may be changed. ymar ds: Cru-mukh is a very good preacher. These are her two friends, who want to take harinma from you tomorrow. Barbara is a yoga teacher from Switzerland. She is also a German translator. She hopes that when she understands the philosophy better, she can help to translate your books. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Barbara] It is important for you to know the meaning of yoga. One plus one becomes two. Yoga means plus. One is our self, the soul, and the other is the Supreme Lord Ka. By the process of love and affection, both of them can meet. The yoga of this world is only for exercise of the body; it is 85
not for awakening the soul. It is best to learn how your soul will be happy, and how you can very quickly develop attachment to Ka in love and affection. Barbara: That is why I am here. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Lata] Where are you from? Lata: Malaysia. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Have you received initiation? Lata: Not yet. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why are you late? Dont wait. Dont waste your time. One day you will have to become old and leave this body. What you are collecting cannot go with you to your next body not even a farthing. Your relatives will weep, but they cannot go with you. Better that you realize yourself and Ka, and in that way be happy in this world. ymar ds: Vrajantha prabhu wants to translate your books into Tagalog, the Filipino native language. He asks for your blessings to do that. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, he can try. I want all of my books to be translated into all languages of the world, and they should be distributed. Bala dsa: Yaomat-nandana prabhu from England is a good devotee. He is going out to the streets every day, preaching and distributing flyers for your program. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. Mitravind ds: I received harinma and dk initiation from rla Tamla Ka Gosvm, but now he has passed away. We have learned from the scriptures that we should take shelter of a pure devotee. I want to take ik from you. Should I give up my attachment to him? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Taml Ka Mahrja was my friend. He used to honor me as his ik-guru. He used to come and hear hari-kath from me Brahma-sahit, Vilpa-kusumjali, Rga-vartma-candrik, and other books. But many ISKCON leaders feared that if he would continue to come to me, then, ISKCON will be ruined and all will go to Nryaa Mahrja. He was bound 86
Kuala Lumpur
by them not to come, but he was my friend. So you can come and I will help you as a ik-guru. You can think of me as your ik-guru. Mitravind ds: The scriptures say that there are qualifications to be a dk-guru. It seems that my guru is not of that standard. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They cannot give bhakti as I give. I can help you much more than any of the ISKCON leaders. That is why Tamla Ka Mahrja used to come to me and learn. You can also hear the dk-mantras from me. If you want to honor him as dk-guru, I have no objection. Treat him as your dk-guru and me as your ik-guru. Sometimes ik-guru is higher than dkguru. So, dont have any doubts. Brajanth dsa: So she is not committing any offense to him? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, he will be glad. Mitravind ds: This is my husband, vara Pur prabhu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: From what country? Brajanth dsa: From Philippines. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He has taken initiation from me? vara Pur dsa: Not yet. Tomorrow. I took harinma and dk from rla Tamla Ka Mahrja. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I must help you. You will be very happy by hearing the dk-mantras from me with a ik relationship. Brajanth dsa: They were both managing the ISKCON temple in Cebu for many years. This is where Tamopaha prabhu is from. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Next year I may come to the Philippines. Vsant ds: Here is a picture from your new disciple from Bacolod, a small island in the Philippines. She is six years old and you gave her the name Ram (referring to both Rdhr and Lakm, the eternal consort of Mah-Viu). She drew this picture of Ka and Balarma for you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Give her my blessings. Vsant ds: When we were at the airport parking lot in the Philippines, just before our flight from Manilla to Malaysia, we 87
facilitated your phone initiation for four of your new disciples. Here are the pictures of the four devotees who were initiated. They are very nice young men. We were running a little late, but when we arrived in the airport terminal after the initiation we found out that the plane was delayed by twenty minutes so we didnt miss it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Referring to ymar ds] Always late. Vsant ds: We had a mobile phone to talk to you. [showing photos] These are the initiates from Manila. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By phone? Vsant ds: Yes. This is a photo of them shaving their heads the night before. This photo shows your phone initiation in Bacolod. This one shows your new devotees in Cebu. And this photo was taken in the ISKCON temple. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They allowed ymar to speak? Vsant ds: They allowed her to speak one night, and at the end of the evening they invited her for the following night. But later they spoke to their temple manager who had not been at the program. Then they said she couldnt come back to speak. Svitr ds: After Malaysia I will go to preach in Hong Kong, then to China, and then to the ladies rama in Los Angeles. I would like to give some classes on how to preach to new people and on Vednta-stra. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vednta-stra? Svitr ds: Yes, Rasnanda prabhu (now rpda rdhara Mahrja) was training us how to do this. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who wrote Vednta-stra? Svitr ds: Vedavysa, an incarnation of Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why? Svitr ds: He collected the essence of the Vedas and divided them in four parts. He was not satisfied, though, so he put all the Vedas in a stra form so that everyone could memorize, and easily learn and understand, all the Vedas.
88
Kuala Lumpur
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Wonderful. Do you remember any stra from Vednta-stra? Svitr ds: Athto brahma jijs. [Meaning, Now it is time to inquire about the Absolute Truth.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: More? Svitr ds: Yasya atho rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: nanda-mayo bhyst. [Meaning The Absolute is full with transcendental pleasure.] More? Janmdy asya yata. [Meaning, From Him everything emanates.] Svitr ds: Yes. That is the second stra. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. You should try. Vednta-stra is very, very hard. Brajanth dsa: She is a lawyer. Svitr ds: I want to be a lawyer of Lord Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Lalit and Vikh are lawyers of rmat Rdhik, and they are extremely competent. If you want to be like them, that is very good. I asked Giri Mahrja, How can a person judge who is preaching well? He could not reply, so I replied that it is any person sannys, brahmacr, brahmacri, or householder who inspires many people to be devotees, and inspires them to take harinma and dk. Also, those who are distributing books and preaching in such a way that others will be inspired of their own accord to donate to my big projects, like book publishing, our new temple in Navadvpa, and preaching centers here and there. The preacher needs to inspire people in such a way that the people themselves come forward to donate. If a preacher cannot inspire anyone else to take harinma and dk, his preaching is not good. I want all of my disciples whether they are brahmacrs, householders, ladies, or sannyss to very boldly preach everywhere what I have taught them. ymar can speak better than any ISKCON leader. She can defeat all their arguments and establish bhakti. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: That is why after she spoke one night at the ISKCON temple in Cebu, they would not let her come back the following night.
89
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They fear. Suppose one takes harinma and dk from a guru who later falls down. Or, even if that guru does not fall down, he cannot remove the doubts of his disciples and he has no realized experience of Ka. How can he give Ka from his heart into others hearts? If a man is nourishing a cow that after a while no longer gives milk, what should he do? He should get another cow. He should get a cow that has milk. In the same way, if a guru to whom we are attached cannot give transcendental knowledge or realization, cannot remove our doubts, and cannot give Ka from his heart to our hearts, how can he be a bona fide guru? If he is a Vaiava and you beg permission from him to go to a more qualified guru, he will allow you to do so. If he is not a true Vaiava, then he will not allow you. He will say, Dont go. If you go, I will curse you. Some persons think, My disciples are my property, but the bona fide guru does not think like this. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: ISKCONs philosophy is now similar to the tvik philosophy1. They are saying, We do not have the highest realization, but we are connecting you with rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja Prabhupda. You will get all things from him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If the tvik system is bona fide, then why did rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja take initiation from his Gurudeva? And, why did his Gurudeva allow his many sannys disciples to initiate? Why did rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura accept a guru who, being illiterate, could not even sign his name, and who was blind? Moreover, that blind personality rejected him two times, saying, I dont know anything. You should go to another guru. rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura replied, If you do not initiate me, I will fast until death. At last rla Gaura Kiora dsa Bbj Mahrja initiated Prabhupda, who would later say with pride, I am his only disciple. ymar ds: Vrajantha prabhu from Cebu is thinking of traveling to the other islands in the Philippines, like Manila and Bacolod, to preach. He has so much experience with krtana and book distribution. Perhaps he can help the younger devotees there. Do you like that idea?
90
Kuala Lumpur
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, he should preach. He should read my books more than he is doing at present. He should preach on all topics according to what I have explained. vara Pur dsa: Gurudeva, our indoctrination from ISKCON was that the disciple is the property of the guru. But you just mentioned that the disciple is not the gurus property. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The disciple is not his property. The guru tries to make the disciple a very qualified guru like himself, so that very soon the disciple can attain ka-prema and serve Ka. Brajanth dsa: You often say that everyone is the property of Ka, and guru brings one to Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Not his property, but Kas property Kas servant, or maidservant. The bona fide guru thinks, I must help this person. He should become qualified and be engaged in Kas direct service. Moreover, there is a service that is very mysterious, and that is rdh-dsyam (personal service to rmat Rdhik). To whom Ka is pleased, He will engage as a maidservant of rmat Rdhik. Brajanth dsa: You have also said that guru becomes very happy when any of his disciples becomes more advanced by receiving guidance from others. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. He will not be envious. Vsant ds: Gurudeva, does baby Ka wear a peacock feather? We see in pictures that He wears a peacock feather, but in Veu-gta it is stated that once, when the peacocks were dancing for Ka, one of the peacocks offered Him his peacock feather and Ka placed it on His own head, and since then He began to wear it always.2 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He wears a peacock feather both when He is a baby and a youth. In r Caitanya-caritmta it has been clearly written that He is actually always in kiora age (a teenage youth of about 14 years old). From kiora, He expands to be a baby or any other age. In His original feature He never becomes older or younger than kiora.
91
Barbara: In your books you write that we should not only read books, but realize them. What is the symptom of someone who has realized what is in the book? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: An example of a realized soul is r Nrada i. He is easily able to say to a person, May kaprema come to you, and ka-prema will immediately manifest in that persons heart. That person will then dance, weep, and sing in spiritual ecstasy. A kaniha-adhikr will take the aspiring devotee to a madhyama or uttama-adhikr guru. Brajanth dsa: Gaurarja is on the phone. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [on the phone] Hare Ka. Oh, my heartly blessings to you, your wife, and your children. Perhaps you have forgotten me. I remember you whenever I see the very fine clothing of hkuraj, but I see that you have forgotten me. Dont forget me. Try to make some time to meet with me. After this tour I will come back to Malaysia, so you must surely meet with me. Brajanth dsa: Padmas mother is on the phone. She is in the hospital. She had a heart attack. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [on the phone] Hare Ka. My heartly blessings to you. Always remember Ka. Ka will help you, and you will be happy. Whatever suffering or happiness comes, always remember Ka. Thank you all.
April 19, 2007

Airport Dar sana
Rma-tulas dsa: Is Ekda-dev rmat Rdhik? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ekda is not Rdhik, but she may be considered a manifestation of Rdhik. Ka has personally become Ekda. Since Ekda and Ka are the same, and Rdh and Ka are the same, it can be said that Ekda is a manifestation of Rdhik. rmat Rdhik, who is the personification of hldin-akti (Kas supreme pleasure potency), is more than Ekda. In Goloka
92
Kuala Lumpur
Vndvana there is no observance of Ekda. Ekda is only for those practicing sdhana (devotional practices) in this material world.3 There, in Goloka Vndvana, rmat Rdhik is the supreme power of Ka, so there are differences between Her and Ekda. Rma-tulas dsa: There is a story that when Ka was sleeping in a cave, the Mura demon came to kill Him. At that time, a akti (power) came out from Kas body in the form of a dev (goddess) with many arms and killed that demon. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I think you are referring to rmad-Bhgavatams narration of the demon Klayavana. When Klayavana was chasing Ka, Ka entered a cave where Mahrja Mucukunda was sleeping. Mucukunda had previously gone to heaven to fight against the demons on behalf of the demigods. After he had helped the demigods win the battle, their commander-in-chief, Krtikeya, told him, We want to give you a benediction, so please ask for one. Mucukunda said, I am very tired. I want to sleep, and I want the benediction that anyone who awakens me will at once be burned to ashes. He received that benediction by the blessing of Krtikeya. Klayavana also had a benediction that he would not be killed by anyone in the Yadu dynasty, and Ka knew this fact. As He was being chased by Klayavana, Ka saw Mucukunda sleeping in the cave, so He hid Himself there. Following Ka, Klayavana entered the cave and, thinking Mucukunda to be Ka, said to him, Now You are sleeping? Do not think I will let You go. He kicked Mucukunda, who awoke, looked towards him, and thus burned him to ashes. No akti came out from Kas body. Rama-tulasi dsa: There is a book about Ekda that was written by Ka-Balarma Svm. In that book there is a description of a manifestation of that dev. It states that when Ka woke up, He saw her with multiple hands. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That book is not authentic. KaBalarma Svm does not follow his own guru, rla Bhaktivednta
3 One might argue that Nanda Mahrja followed Ekda, and he is a resident
of Goloka Vndvana. Actually, Nanda Mahrja follows Ekda only in prakaaVndvana, Vndvana as it is manifested in this world, which is sdhana-bhm, the world of devotional practice. And he did so only for the purpose of teaching others. (rpda Mdhava Mahrja)
93
Svm Mahrja. He thinks, I was born as a brhmaa and my gurudeva was not; so I am greater than him. He came to me, but I refused to meet with him. I told him, You dont have any faith in your gurudeva or guru-parampar. rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm was not born in a brhmaa family, but he is equal to rla Rpa Gosvm, rla Santana Gosvm, rla Raghuntha Bhaa Gosvm, rla Jva Gosvm, and rla Gopala Bhaa Gosvm. rla Narottama dsa hkura was not a brhmaa by birth, but he was more qualified than any brhmaa. Ka-Balarma Svms thoughts are very bad. It is best not to read his book. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: In that Ekads book he collected many stories from different Puras for each Ekads. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We also have a collection of such histories, but not in English. Ours is in Bengali, but we can translate it into English. That translation will be authoritative. ymar ds: rla Gurudeva, this is your new daughter, Vrajar, and this is her seven-month-old baby, Bhma. When Bhma was 6 months old, he could not have a grain ceremony (anna-prana) with you because his mother was not in the same place as you. She wants to know if Bhma can at least have part of that ceremony with your presence, wherein he indicates his future activities. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Bring him here. [According to Vedic culture, it is customary to place in front of a six-month-old child both coins and books in order to get some indication of his future tendencies. On one side there are coins (indicating future wealth) and on the other side a scripture (indicating future devotional scholarship), and sometimes a weapon (indicating a future king or warrior). At this time the child also receives his first grains.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No knife? [Bhma chose the ring, at which moment rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja immediately tapped him on the head with the iva-tattva book (representing scripture).] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He will be a rich person. Vrajar ds: rla Gurudeva, I have a question. Even though Bhma will become rich, will he also become a good devotee?
94
Kuala Lumpur
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Again tapping him on the head with the iva-tattva book] Oh, yes. That is why I tapped him. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja was then handed some cake prasdam, and put a little piece into the babys mouth to enact the babys grain ceremony.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To ymar ds] One thing: Regarding the information I told you in confidence about the pictures in order that you could paint them you disclosed those ideas to others. That is not good. Those truths should not be disclosed. ymar ds: Yes, I made a big mistake. I will not do that anymore. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I think you record all my words; but these particular words should not be disclosed to others. ymar ds: I will be very careful from now on. Gurudeva, this is the wife of your disciple Vijaya prabhu. For her entire life up to now, she has been worshiping Durg-dev. Last night, we showed her your translation and commentary of Brahmasahit, which explains the relationship between Durg and Rdh and Ka. She read it. She wants to know how to cut her relationship with Durg, so that she can worship Rdh and Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should know who Durgdev is. Durg-dev is a shadow of rmat Rdhik. Rdhik is likened to the soul, and Durg-dev, Kl, is likened to the body. If a reality is not present, there can be no shadow of that reality. Similarly, without Rdhik, there would be no existence of Kl. In order to give mere worldly benedictions, rmat Rdhik manifests as Durg in this world. This world is a durga, which means fort; it is a jail.4 As protector and destroyer of this world, Durgdev can give you wealth, reputation, and other worldly benefits, but she cannot give ka-prema, liberation, or anything spiritual. Only Rdhik and Her direct manifestations, like Vikh and Lalit, can do so. Durg-dev is not present in Goloka Vndvana. She is only manifest in this world, whereas there is a manifestation of rmat Rdhik named Yogamy, who is in the spiritual domain and is somewhat like Her. Whatever Durg-dev gives you will be gone
95
after your death, so it is better for you to think of Rdhik as the reality and Her shadow as Durg. It will be better for you to take initiation, just as your husband has taken, and thus worship r r Rdh-Ka. Then, Durg will be very, very happy with you. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Sometimes disciples ask if they can still keep a deity of Durg in their house. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They should be one-pointed. If they cannot give up having Durg on their altars, they can offer Durg the remnants of r r Rdh-Kas caramta (remnant water from the bathing of the Deities). Otherwise, they will be cheated. Ka-priy ds: rla Bhaktivinoda hkura says in Jaiva-dharma that we should only take prasdam that has been offered to Rdh and Ka. He says that the foodstuffs offered to the demigods are not truly prasdam. What is the nature of the foodstuffs we get when we go to the temples of the demigods? What do we call that? Can we eat it? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We do not eat the remnants of Kl, Durg, akara (Lord iva), or their manifestations. If bhoga (unoffered foodstuffs) is first offered to Ka or Viu, and Their prasdam is then offered to the demigods, we can accept that. For example, in Bhuvanevara, the bhoga is first offered to Ananta Vsudeva (a form of Ka), and His prasdam is offered to Bhuvanevara Liga-rja (Lord iva). We can accept that prasdam. We offer obeisances to akara, and if a devotee gives the prasdam remnants of Ka to akara, we will accept that; otherwise not.5 In any case, we will not accept ashes in imitation of akara,6 or other customs accepted by his followers. If someone does not wear tilaka and kah-ml (tulas neck-beads), then the messengers of Yamarja, the god of death, will consider, This person is not a devotee of Ka. They will take that person to Yamarja for punishment. So, try to wear tilaka and kah-ml. Rma-tulas dsa: Regarding a devotee of r Ka and a nondevotee, what happens to the soul after someone dies?
5 See Endnote 4, at the end of this chapter. 6 akara smears his body with ashes in order to show the world the destination of
bodies at death their bodies are burned and turn to ashes.
96
Kuala Lumpur
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If one is not a proper devotee, then according to his activities he will have to go to heaven or hell. According to his karma he may take birth anywhere, as a dog, donkey, monkey, or any other species. Rma-tulas dsa: Does this take place immediately, as soon as the soul leaves the body? Or, does it take some time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It depends on what the person has done. Rma-tulas dsa: My wife passed away on January 5th of this year. Where did she go? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She was a devotee, and you and her children are devotees. She was always chanting the holy name, so she has taken birth in a rich devotee family. There she will easily obtain a guru again, and she will continue her bhajana. Ka is more merciful than Nryaa, Viu, and other incarnations. There is no one more merciful than Ka. Even Lord Rmacandra could not give as much honor to ladies as Ka did. Ka gave Himself to rmat Rdhik and the gops. Sixteen thousand princesses, the very beautiful daughters of kings, had been imprisoned in the jail of Naraksura, and they always remembered Ka there. Ka came and killed Naraksura, released the princesses, and then told them, You can now go wherever you want to your husbands, mothers, and fathers. They replied, We cannot go anywhere. We want to be the maidservants of Rukmi and Satyabhm in Your palace. We will sweep there, and perform all other menial services. Ka said, No. I will accept you as My queens, just as I have accepted Rukmi and Satyabhm. He married all of them and took them to Dvrak, and there He gave each of them a palace. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja was then called to go to his gate for boarding his plane.]
ENDNOTES
1 A tvik is a priest who performs a yaja (fire sacrifice) for the fulfillment of worldly desires (karma-kanda) on behalf of someone else. After the departure of rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, some of his followers have propounded the idea that anyone can still
97
become the direct, initiated disciple of rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja by taking initiation from any of his disciples, who solely act as a tvik intermediate. rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja strongly refuted this idea on many occasions. In a lecture spoken in Russia on July 19, 2001, rla Mahrja explained:
Those who think, There is no need to accept a guru as a mediator because we can chant the holy name, we can read books, and we can do arcana and sdhana simply by the tvik system, are not within the guru-parampar. They deceive others. They are actually cheaters; not bhaktas. Nowhere in the stra is it written that a tvik can ever give bhakti. [There are nineteen places in Prabhupdas books where the word tvik is used, and in all cases the word only refers to a priest officiating or performing a fire sacrifice. Even when the word used is tvik-crya, it is still defined as a priest performing a fire sacrifice for a secular gain.] This can never be the case. These tviks have no faith in Ka, no faith in bhakti, and no faith in scriptures like the Vedas, Upaniads, rmadBhgavatam, and Caitanya-caritmta. They also have no faith in the guru-parampar, and that is why they cannot give bhakti. This word t has come from the word g-Veda. Those who know all Vedas, including the g, Sma, Yajur, and Atharva Veda, all the Upaniads, and all the Puras, are actually tvik. I think, however, that these modern tviks dont even know the ABCs of the Vedas. They say that in this world there are no pure devotees, and therefore there are no pure devotees to initiate anyone. This idea is very, very wrong and it against the principles of bhakti. The tvik proponents saw that the devotees in their society were quarreling amongst themselves, and that there was no uddha-bhakta there. Then, mistaking that those who quarreled were in the guru-parampar, the tviks became opposed to the actual guru-parampar. Beware of this tvik system. Without a self-realized guru you cannot achieve bhakti in thousands of births. This is an established truth. This is siddhnta. You should therefore accept a sad-guru, serve him, and try to follow his instructions. Then you can develop your Krsna consciousness and all of your anarthas will disappear. Otherwise, it will never be possible for pure bhakti to come and touch your heart and senses.
98
Kuala Lumpur
Real tviks know all stras, and all of them have gurus. A tvik cannot be a tvik without accepting a real guru. All tviks, like Vaiha i, are very high-class devotees. Vivmitra, Gautama, and even Vysadeva are tviks, but they have all accepted the guru-parampar. They all believe that there are always self-realized gurus in the world. Nowadays, therefore, those who call themselves tviks are all cheaters, and we should beware of them.
Later on that year, on December 12, 2001, rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja further discussed this in a lecture given in Germany:
Many say that rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja was a follower of the tvik system, but this statement is quite false. rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja accepted the guruparampar, r Caitanya Mahprabhu, r Nitynanda Prabhu, and the goal of life as shown by rla Rpa Gosvm, rla Kadsa Kavirja Gosvm, the Gt and the Bhgavatam. Since rla Svm Mahrja accepted these principles, how can anyone say he accepted the tvik system? Nowhere in rmad-Bhgavatam, Gt, or any other scriptures is it stated that the tvik system has anything to do with the guruparampar and bhakti. It has no connection with bhakti at all. The tvik system is only employed for the performance of a fire sacrifice, for the fulfillment of worldly desires (karmakanda). It is totally irrelevant to our bhakti, to rmadBhgavatam, to the Gt, and to our guru-parampar. rla Rpa Gosvm never mentioned anything about the tvik system in his Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu, Ujjvala-nlamai, or in his other books. rla Santana Gosvm has written so many books, but he has never discussed the tviks.
2 An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas Bhaktirasyana, Chapter Two:
Ka saw Girirja Govardhana resplendent with creepers, blooming flowers, and ripe fruits. The breeze was blowing very gently, seemingly unable to carry the full weight of the flowers fragrance. Seeing this natural splendor, the desire for enjoyment arose in Ka, and He played the flute very softly. Hearing this
99
deep vibration, the peacocks went mad, dancing in rhythm with their tail-feathers fully spread out. At that time, all of the animals, birds, and insects of Vndvana congregated in the meadows of Govardhana to witness the performance. One of the peacocks thought, Ka is playing such a beautiful melody on His flute and dancing in such a way that we are feeling great happiness, but I have nothing to offer Him in return. I have no golden necklace around my neck, or any valuable ornaments. I am simply an animal, but the feathers of my tail are very valuable. There is nothing in this world which can compare to their beauty, and upon seeing them everyone becomes pleased. These seven-colored feathers are so attractive, so is there any reason I shouldnt offer Him one feather? He therefore left behind one of his feathers. Seeing this, Ka thought, That peacock is very loving; he has fully appreciated My flute-playing and has offered Me one of his valuable feathers. There is nothing artificial in this offering. Lifting up the feather and placing it on His head, Ka thought, Just as the flute is dear to Me, this peacock feather has now become dear to Me. While walking, resting, dreaming, standing, or sitting, I will never abandon it. Wherever I may go in Vraja, I will never abandon the flute or this peacock feather. This is the origin of the peacock feather becoming Kas most celebrated ornament. Durg is the superintendent of police of this universe. Durg [a Sanskrit word] means fort. G means going, and dur means difficulty. So, that realm where you cannot go anywhere unless you accept so many difficulties that is called durg, or fort. This universe, this material world, is just like a durg. You cannot escape. Conditioned souls cannot escape. It is very difficult. Daiv hy e gua-may mama my duratyay * (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, Bhagavad-gt 7.14, purport). There are rules and regulations in this worlds government, just as with an immigration department or security department. These rules are simply reflections of the original function of the supreme government. This world is just like a prison house. You cannot escape so easily. The original superintendent is Durg. Durg is the protector of this durg, from where you cannot escape. She is also a servant of
3
100
Kuala Lumpur
Ka. This Durg is fear personified, but still she cannot disobey Kas order * (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, Lecture of October, 1974).
4
Lord Viu should be offered everything, and His prasda should be distributed to all the demigods. This practice is still followed in the temple of Jaganntha at Pur. There are many temples of demigods around the main temple of Jaganntha, and the prasda which is offered first to Jaganntha is distributed to all the demigods. The deity of Bhaglin is worshiped with the prasda of Viu, and also, in the famous Lord iva temple of Bhuvanevara, the prasda of Lord Viu or Lord Jaganntha is offered to the deity of Lord iva * (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. rmad-Bhgavatam 4.7.55, purport).
101
103
Los Angeles
May 18, 2007

Airport Dar sana
nit ds: rla Gurudeva, today Im going to visit my material family. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Where? nit ds: In Denver. Can you help me realize that you are my father, and my mother, and my everything? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Go and meet with them, and again come to me. nit ds: I want to see you in Houston. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And then in Badger as well. nit ds: rla Gurudeva, ymar dd wanted me to ask you this: If we have Gaura-Niti Deities and we are performing magalarati, is it okay to think of the Deity of Nitynanda as Anaga Majar and Mahprabhu as Rdh and Ka? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Where there are Deities and you are doing Their arcana, you should think of Them as GauraNitynanda. Because you are engaged in arcana-mrga, you should think first about whatever Deity is present. nit ds: But your gurudevas magala-rati song is for Rdh and Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Mahprabhu can be with RdhKa, but Nitynanda Prabhu cannot. nit ds: So, its okay to sing this magala-rati song as worship of Gaura-Niti? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We should meditate upon what has been told in the rati-krtana. nit ds: Are you saying that there should be a separate rati song for Gaura-Niti? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Separate. nit ds: If there are Rdh-Ka Deities and Gaura-Niti Deities on the same altar, but somewhat separated, which rati song would we sing in the morning? 105
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: There should be one altar with a dividing structure of any material. First sing to Gaura-Niti (Udilo arua) and then to Rdh-Ka (Magala ri Guru-Gaura). If you only have time to sing one song, then you can sing Magala ri Guru-Gaura and meditate on Nitynanda Prabhu as akhaa-gurutattva (the complete, undivided, original guru). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Ka-may ds, who is a teacher in a public school] You have trained your students very well. Ka-may ds: You have trained them very well. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are small, small children, yet they know Ka. r Vnd ds: They have two good teachers; you and Ka-may. Ka-mayi ds: They naturally love you so much, and they love to hear about Kas pastimes. It is so beautiful. nit ds: I visited the school, Gurudeva. They know so many stories of Gopla more than I do. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are there any questions? Mlin ds: How can I stay one-pointed in bhakti when I am at school? What are the things I should do? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do some chanting and remembering, reading books, and studying. Become qualified to preach my mission. r Vnd ds: I have a question, Gurudeva. When you are giving class, as you sit on the vyssana looking at all of us, sometimes you look stern and sometimes you are smiling. What are you doing with us through your eyes? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By my eyes I am giving you kabhakti. Guru does this in order to impregnate your heart with bhakti. r Vnd ds: Sometimes when you are looking at us, its like, Whoa! Sometimes I dont know where to look. Should I keep looking at you even though [making a gasping sound as if overwhelmed]? Keep looking? Where else to look, right? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is why a living dk-guru, or ik-guru, is needed. Without guru, one cannot advance. Some
106
Los Angeles
gurus put their hand on the disciples head and say, May you go to Goloka Vndvana. Nrada, for example, can do this. A madhyamaadhikr cannot do this. He can inspire by his hari-kath. Regarding a kaniha-adhikr, he will take that devotee to a sad-guru (selfrealized guru). nit ds: rla Gurudeva, Mahprabhu met with so many of His associates outside of Navadvpa. In nitya-ll He is always in Navadvpa. How do we think that Rpa Gosvm, Raghuntha dsa Gosvm, and other associates are with Mahprabhu in aprakaall [in Navadvpa in Goloka Vndvana], if they were not living in Navadvpa when He was here in prakaa-ll (His manifest pastimes in this material world)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are certainly present there. You should see that although r Rpa-Santana, Bhaa Raghuntha, r Jva, Gopala-bhaa, dsa Raghuntha, and Svarpa Dmodara and Rya Rmnanda are not in Navadvpa with Him outwardly [they were with Him in other places], they are with Him outwardly in aprakaa Goloka vetadvpa (Navadvpa in Goloka). abhadeva dsa: rla Gurudeva, in Los Angeles, Prema-prayojana prabhu is preaching to the academic and yoga communities. Can householder devotees also go to hear from him? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It depends on them. He is writing, or perhaps any of his followers are writing, that he is the sole authority on bhakti. I never say that I am the authority, and rla Bhaktivinoda hkura has not told this. He is not the authority. Is it that he is the authority because he was a sannys and now he is a householder? What can anybody learn from him if he has personally deviated? I want to correct him and take him back to sannysa. What I told in my class was only for him. Everything I told about Purrav and the prostitute was only for him. r Vnd ds: I thought it was for me. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In rmad-Bhgavatam, Purrav lamented, Oh, this Urva has cheated me. She has taken my paramrtha (transcendental) ka-bhakti. I should leave her. He thus gave her up, came to this world, and began to chant and remember Ka.
107
abhadeva dsa: Is there benefit for beginners, like persons in the academic or yoga communities, to hear from him? He is also directing people to you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I call him only to attract him to come, and to give up that lady and come to me. I am giving him a chance. Svitr ds: Guru Mahrja, yesterday an opportunity came for us to put articles about bhakti-yoga in one of the biggest magazines in L.A.; two yoga magazines and one big website where so many people can read these bhakti-yoga articles that contain your hari-kath. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. r Vnd ds: Gurudeva, in the story of the king and Urva, you say that Urva cheated the king. Isnt it that he cheated himself by his own desire? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is why he was saying, I lost my heart and gave it to Urva. Her beauty and loving affairs attracted me, and in this way she cheated me. I have deviated from Ka. Then he left her. So, by chance one may have given up sannysa and become entangled with a lady or vice-versa any lady may be entangled with a male person and then they realize, What have I done?! Repenting for this, they can again come to the proper path. r Vnd ds: Well, Gurudeva, you were a good surprise here in Los Angeles. I was accepting that, Oh, Gurudeva is not coming to Los Angeles. I have to wait to go to see him in Badger. I wasnt even dreaming that you were going to come, but youre a dream come true! And I wasnt even dreaming! rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I thought that I must come to L.A., even for one or two days. So I changed my ticket. Cru-candrik ds: Gurudeva, my name is Caru-candrik. I am working hard with Govinda Mohi to have an rama for the ladies here in L.A. In that way we can preach, and have a space for other ladies to come and be strong and preach your mission. So please bless us rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If any lady desires, she can stay there in the temple we have some room with ymal.
108
Los Angeles
Svitr ds: Guru Mahrja, they already have an rama, in Venice. They are running it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh. You are doing well? You are distributing books? How many of you are there? Caru-candrik ds: Two for now. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Two only? There should be more than three.
109
111
Houston
May 23, 2007

Dar sana
Devotee: Do you have any instructions for the devotees in Washington? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Preach my mission, engage in book distribution, inspire new devotees, and collect and inspire new people to become devotees. You can preach from Jaiva-dharma or any other book. Those who are qualified can preach in this way. Brajanth dsa: [Reading an email] We are vegetarian. Sometimes we are working and we have to eat in restaurants. Is it okay to take food from the restaurants that serve meat? Or, should we avoid this all together? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To all the devotees present] What do you think? Devotees: Avoid. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, avoid. Very good. If devotees go anywhere outside, they can bring something with them from home, as we do. We buy and cook. Ram ds: I heard from Vrajendra-nandana prabhu that Badger is going to be a big society under your guidance. If we want to focus our attention on Badger, then why should we make a school in Alachua? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you can prepare good teachers like Vrajendra-nandana and others there are five teachers in Badger you can make a good school in Alachua. Why not? Some thing is necessary. Divya ds: My daughter Rasika wants to become a teacher. She is already in college. Perhaps she can be a teacher and start a school in Alachua. Do you think that this is a good idea? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, I thought that she would become a brahmacri and preach my mission. Divya ds: I tell her to do that. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Please help her so that she can preach. Divya ds: You can tell her. Tell her.
113
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: My wish is that my girls become very expert in preaching, as at the time of rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. At that time young ladies were preaching in so many places. One of them was ymar, also Vndvanavilsin, and so many others. I want all of my lady disciples to be like ymar, preaching here and there. This is bhakti. Do as our entire guru-parampar has done; then your life will be successful. r Caitanya Mahprabhu has told us, Janma srthaka kari kara para-upakra One should make his own life successful, and work for the benefit of all other people. At first youll need to know all tattvas: viu-tattva, jva-tattva, my-tattva, and all others. Mahprabhu has also said: Guru haya tra sarva-dea Be qualified to be like a guru, and preach everywhere, Hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare / hare rma hare rma rma rma hare hare. Dont take eggs, fish, meat, or wine, and avoid gambling and smoking. Remember Ka and chant His name. Money can never save anyone. Rather, it gives trouble. So do something to easily maintain your life, and use the rest of the time to preach. Ka-vallabh ds: You are saying to become like guru before preaching. But we may not become like guru in this life, so then no preaching happens. How to reconcile this? Although we are not qualified, we want to inspire others to come to bhakti. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want to make you all guru. Try to be guru. Not initiating, but preaching is also within guru-tattva. First, be of good character, very pure. With a strong character, you can teach and all can hear; otherwise not. Avaiava-mukhodgra pta hari-kathmtam We should not hear hari-kath from the mouths of those that are not pure Vaiavas, who are not under the guidance of guru, following and obeying him. Aniruddha dsa: We do not have magala-rati in our Alachua saga, so I go daily to the ISKCON temple for magala-rati. I understand from Prabhupdas books that magala-rati is very important. But I have heard from some of your preachers that doing magala-rati and worshiping Deities is for kanihas. Is this true? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I attend. rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura attended and would personally ring the bell. Raghuntha dsa Gosvm worshipped govardhanail. Those who say that magala-rati and hkuraj worship are only for kaniha-adhikrs are themselves kaniha-adhikrs. 114
Houston
Mukua dsa: We all perform magala-rati at our homes. What Aniruddha prabhu is trying to say is that we dont have a building yet, so we cant come together and perform magala-rati together. He wants that we have a place where we can all come together. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You must arrange a place. First you can rent a house, and then you can get a bigger center where Deities and all temple paraphernalia can be situated. There you can meet and perform rati and all other functions. Isa dsa: It is okay to go to ISKCON until we get our own place? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If it is favorable. If it is not favorable, if those in the ISKCON temple criticize me or any pure Vaiava, then it is better not to go. Ka-vallabh ds: ISKCON is a large temple with a lot of devotees. Only a few people criticize. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When we will have our center, all should come there. Gag-Nryaa dsa: When we have bhajanas in our saga, only a very small amount of time is spent chanting the mah-mantra. Your devotees chant mah-mantra only for a few minutes, at the end. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Whenever we meet together, hari-kath should be performed. You can chant mah-mantra as much as you like in your house. You can personally chant and sing mah-mantra anywhere. Regarding the saga meetings, some mahmantra and paca-tattva-mantra should be there at the beginning and at the end, as we do. a dsa: Vnd dd says that when we have a center in Alachua, you will come every year. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: First make it.
May 23, 2007

Radio Interview
Radio Host: Just to introduce myself, I am beginning a radio program here in Houston that is called Yoga for Peace. What we do is 115
educate people on the vastness of yoga and the different paths that one can take in order to reach peace. In this way, people dont get too stuck in the haha or sana portion of yoga.1 They will be able to understand that there are other avenues to expand and reach peace. This is what the program is about. We have interviewed Svms and other great souls who have come to town, and we play these interviews on the radio so that people can learn. I will start with an introduction and then I have a few questions I would like to ask. There are several paths in yoga, and at some point I would like to discuss them all on Yoga for Peace Radio. One of those paths is called bhakti, or the path of devotion. We are fortunate to have His Divine Grace r Bhaktivednta Nryaa Mahrja here to help us better understand this yogic path of devotion. Mahrja is a great Vaiava saint who has circled the globe twenty-five times with this simple message of love and devotion that has attracted the hearts and souls of millions. At the age of eighty-seven, he is the most revered and eldest of Vaiava teachers to visit the Western world. To date, he has written over fifty books, which have been translated into several languages by his followers. For over half a century, rla Nryaa Mahrja has demonstrated and exemplified the pure life of utter dedication and loving service. Namaste, r Bhaktivednta Nryaa Mahrja. To start, I would like to congratulate you on your title of Cultural Ambassador of the City of Houston, as bestowed by our Mayor to you in the year 2004. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, thank you. Radio Host: Youre quite welcome. So, to begin, I have a few questions. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: How did she know? Viu dsa: There was an article in the newspaper, and we sent some information. Radio Host: And I read it on the internet. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They have also given me American citizenship.
1 Haha-yoga, or sana, is the third portion of the process of aga-yoga. It is the
practice of adopting different bodily postures, in order to render the body supple so that a person may perform prolonged meditation.
116
Houston
Radio Host: Oh, wonderful! Then youre welcome to come here any time. The door is open. Now, I have some basic questions for you. Why should people practice yoga? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We see that everywhere in this world especially in China, Taiwan, and Japan, as well as in other countries people do physical exercises to keep their bodies strong and durable. It may be that for some time their bodies can remain like that. They may be strong, with no disease and with some longevity, but one day they must become old, and where will their yoga go at that time? They will no longer be able to do exercise. So, for the time being we can exercise to protect our body from disease and make it strong, but this is actually exercise, not yoga. Nowadays, yoga is very famous everywhere. The word yoga has come from the Indian Sanskrit language, and it means adding two things together. What two things? Most people dont know, but we know, because we practice real yoga. We are not this body. This body is only a bag of urine, blood, stool, and other nasty things, and one day you will have to give it up. But there is a soul in this body; soul means you and me. And there is also a Supersoul, the Supreme Lord. We reside in the heart of the body along with the Supersoul. By the practice of bhakti-yoga, one will know, I am spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Then, by love and affection, one joins together with Him. Do you understand? Radio Host: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you want to build a wall, you lay brick after brick, and there must also be some cement. Similarly, if we want to have a connection with the Supreme Lord, there must be prema, pure love and affection. By love and affection we can be with Ka and serve Him. As a result of such service, this body, which is a bag of stool and urine, will be gone forever. We will thus realize our very beautiful soul, which is everlasting, with no birth, old age, and death. Then, with our spiritual body, we will serve the beautiful Supreme Lord. This is called yoga, and the effect of this yoga is that we will no longer have to come to this world to become old and die. Radio Host: Very good. So the reason to practice yoga...
117
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But one thing: For the time being, we should try to keep our body strong and well, and therefore we should also accept these yoga exercises. At the same time, the practice of bhakti-yoga is essential. Bhakti-yoga is real yoga. Radio Host: In combination with the exercise? Viu dsa: Haha-yoga is for maintaining the body, and bhakti is for the soul, for spiritual advancement. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Haha-yoga is only for the physical body; we are not our bodies. Radio Host: That leads me to the next question, which you may have already answered in part. India has many bhakti-yoga practitioners. Do you think that bhakti-yoga is a practical path for the West? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not only for Western countries, but for the whole world. Wherever there are living souls, bhaktiyoga is practical. Ive traveled the world about twenty-four times. In each and every country I go, I preach bhakti-yoga and show people by my own example how to practice it. Thousands upon thousands of persons are accepting the teachings of bhakti, and they are now very happy very happy. Radio Host: So, it is universal. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Millions of devotees follow me and practice practical bhakti-yoga. Radio Host: Can Christians follow the bhakti path and still practice their religion? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Actually, Jesus Christs teaching is very good, and it comes in the category of bhaktiyoga. But nowadays we see that Christians are not following those teachings. In the practice of bhakti-yoga, pure food is required. We should not take meat, eggs, and wine, and we should not engage in smoking. If we engage in these sinful activities while trying to practice bhakti-yoga, that will not be favorable; we will not be able to perform bhakti-yoga. But they do not follow this. If they would avoid meat, eggs, smoking, and drinking wine and at the same time think of the Supreme Lord, who has a transcendental form, who is very beautiful
118
Houston
and merciful, and who is seen by bhakti-yoga then they can practice successfully. M-E-A-T means me eat. You will be eaten by those whom you are eating; so dont eat meat. A child in the womb is called an egg. If you eat eggs, you are doing so against the will of the Supreme Lord. He has not created these beings to be eaten. For your eating He has created milk, sugar, ghee, so many fruits, vegetables, curd, and unlimited other edibles. Radio Host: How do you feel about the poor treatment of cows in this country in order to extract their milk? Do you feel that such milk is still pure? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is a very wrong thing. It is cruelty. The Supreme Lord will surely punish such cruel persons. They will take birth as cows, and those cows will take birth as humans and do the same thing to them. All activities have a reaction good or bad so we should not do such things. Radio Host: We should avoid the milk that is in the grocery stores? Is that what you are saying? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is like meat. We should not take it. Radio Host: I very much agree. You have answered a lot of my questions. Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, there are also cows that are treated well and fed an organic diet. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is good. I have seen this in Holland, millions of cows, very big cows. We can take the milk of such cows. Radio Host: Unless a person can go and see how the cows are treated in this country and many other places, it is difficult to know. Their saying it is organic does not mean that the cows are treated well. It just means they are fed different food. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We have many cows in our rama (monastery). We give proper care and food to them. First they give milk to their calves, and only then do we take their milk. Radio Host: How can bhakti-yoga contribute to peace personally and globally?
119
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Bhakti-yoga is the transcendental religion of all souls. It is natural for the soul to serve Ka. Ka is the Supreme Lord. God is love, and love is God. Ka is love personified. If anyone serves Him, that person becomes fully happy with pure love and affection. He is never unhappy, because in the transcendental world there are no diseases or old age, and no problem exists of any kind. There is only happiness, and more happiness; that person will be eternally happy. Bhakti-yoga is very easy to follow. The devotee prays, O God, You are extremely merciful. Please be merciful to me. And he chants the Lords names. The names of the Supreme Lord are very powerful. In a moment the Lord can create millions of universes, and again in a moment He can destroy them, and then re-create them. He is causelessly merciful. He has all good qualities. He has invested all His power, all His mercy, and all His qualities in His names, and that is why His names are so powerful. We chant and meditate upon His names: Hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare / hare rma hare rma rma rma hare hare. Whatever language we speak, whether we live in Western or Eastern countries, we can very easily chant and offer respectful obeisances to Him. We can very easily become situated in bhakti-yoga, and thus become liberated from this world and be happy forever. Radio Host: Can one chant Jesuss name and have the same effect as chanting Kas name? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Jesus is not God, the Supreme Lord. He is the son of God. The Father has a form, because in the Bible, first chapter, it is written that God created man after His own image. If God has no image, how can He create the human form, or human image? God has form and so many qualities. All qualities reside in Him. Brajanth dsa: Other names can also be meditated upon? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What names do Christians have for God? Brajanth dsa: Jehovah, Yahweh. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The name Christ came when the young Jesus went to our sacred places in India. In Vndvana, where we come from, he heard the name Ka, the Supreme Lord, 120
Houston
and saw His form. Then he went to South India, where the residents pronounce Ka as Krushna. From Krushna came Krista, and from Krista came Christ. Christ is the same as Ka, and therefore you can chant the name Christ, or Jehovah, or whatever name you wish. Radio Host: Allah? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Allah refers to brahma. Allah means there is nothing greater than that, and therefore He is Allah, or brahma; He is the greatest. But one thing: we say that God is Bhagavn (full with six opulences, namely wealth, fame, knowledge, strength, beauty, and renunciation). Brahma has no form or qualities. It is merely the effulgence of the nails of the Lord. As the sunrays and light have no form, so brahma and Allah are like the effulgence of Bhagavn. Bhagavn has form and all qualities, and He is very merciful. You can also chant Allah or Huda, but you will not gain much from that. Radio Host: That is how peace can come globally when everyone realizes that it is all the same? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By this we can always be peaceful; not quarreling and not slaughtering animals. Animals are also souls, just as we are. By this awareness we can be happy. Radio Host: That sounds good to me. Another question: Do you believe that the bhakti practice has contributed to your good health and longevity? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That may be. I am always happy, traveling the entire world, writing so many books, and preaching bhakti-yoga everywhere. I have no worldly desires; I have given them up forever. Actually, I have no home, but everywhere is my home. I have no wife, but I have millions of daughters and sons. Radio Host: Yes, a very loving family. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I dont discriminate between Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist. I know they are all souls within their bodies; sons and daughters of God. Radio Host: One more question: How can one find his true teacher? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is very rare very rare to find such a teacher, or guru. There are some symptoms by which such 121
a guru is recognized. He should know all the Vedic literature. He should be so expert that he can remove the doubts of his disciples. He should have realization of God, so that he can give God from his heart to others hearts. Next, he should be detached from worldly desires. Such a guru is very rare. However, if you pray to God with a clean and simple heart, O God, You are merciful. Please arrange that I can meet such a guru, He will somehow mercifully arrange that such a guru will come to your door and tell you everything for your spiritual success. Radio Host: So, the key is to be pure of heart in ones desire. Very good. Well, I dont want to keep you very long. Ive kept you a long time already. I just want to go ahead and ask if you have a final message to give to the listeners of the radio program. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If any person wants to be happy, he must follow bhakti-yoga. Without chanting the name of the Supreme Lord, one can never be happy; never, never. To chant the name properly one should give up eating meat and eggs, drinking wine, smoking, and other bad habits. He should not harm animals. He should not give any pain to animals, or to any living entities. Thus, he can become happy. This is my final message. Also, I pray to the Lord that all should be happy. Sarve sukhena bhavantu. All should be without disease. I also pray that you will personally be happy in your life, and that you will realize God. Radio Host: It seems you have taught your disciples very well, because they can fill in your sentences for you [meaning that they can provide English equivilents when rla Mahrja says words in his native tongue, Hindi, and appears not to know their English translation]. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are very expert. I am now eighty-seven years old. They have taken care of me in such a way that I can travel and write. Radio Host: Are you going to continue to travel? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yes, of course. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If I am a citizen in India, and here also, I will have to come here. 122
Houston
Radio Host: It has been a wonderful, wonderful pleasure meeting you. Thank you so much. It has been a great honor to meet you. I really appreciate this time that youve given me. Its been wonderful, and I hope this message can get out to others. Namaste. Brajanth dsa: Many gurus come to the Western countries and say, I am God. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are totally foolish idiotnumber-one. If they are God, why do they die? Why do they become old? Why do they search after money? God can do anything by His wish. Can they? They are cheating themselves and others. God is: G Generator of the whole world. O Operator, and D Destroyer. That person is God. You are helpless. Those who say I am God cannot do anything to help themselves. They are bound to grow old and die. God has no disease, no old age, no death nothing like that at all.
June 3, 2007
Copyright Dar sana
[Generally, all the daranas of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja are clearly questions and answers and teachings. Here in this Copyright darana, the teaching is more in the darana as a whole than in the particular words of rla Mahrja. His desires for the protection of his copyrights is indicated here in this darana, but his detailed instructions in the matter can be found in the endnotes.] Vivambhara dsa: rla Gurudeva, everybody is assigning to you any copy rights they may have.2 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. Vivambhara dsa: We are recording this session, so that everyone in the world will see that you own your books. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. I will give my rights to the committee Gaudiya Vedanta Publications (GVP). rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Can you show Gurudeva where to sign?
2 See Endnotes 1 and 2, at the end of this chapter.
123
Vivambhara dsa: Okay. Victira, you can come. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vicitri also? Vivambhara dsa: She is signing. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Trtha Mahrja also? What is he doing? Vivambhara dsa: He is helping with your translation of rmadBhgavatam, so he is assigning everything to you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vnd also? Vivambhara dsa: Yes. At first, there are only nine. Trtha Mahrja, ymar dd, nti dd, Prema-prayojana prabhu, Acyutnanda... rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Acyutnanda also? Very wonderful America. Vivambhara dsa: It is the Coypright Act of 1959. It is the same in India. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The writer of the book is the authority, and he has the copyright. Brajanth dsa: Those who have helped sign over their rights to him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Thank you, ymar. You are serving me in so many ways; so many ways. ymar ds: I havent started serving you yet. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You dont need my signature? Vivambhara dsa: Yes, we will witness your signing. Yamun-prasda dsa: The editors assist until there is a pre-press edition. Gurudeva approves it all, including the cover and pictures, and all that gets copyrighted. Vivambhara dsa: GVP doesnt sign anything. Only the people who are creating any aspect of the book need to sign. That is copyrighted, and the final is published, reproduced, and distributed. We will make copies of these papers and send them to the lawyers, and then we will give everyone a copy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And Prema-prayojana. Do Rdh-knta and Sundara-gopla also need to sign? 124
Houston
Vivambhara dsa: Rdh-knta, no. Sundara-gopla yes. Whoever works on assisting you with the books needs to sign. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Puarka? Vivambhara dsa: Puarka, yes, and Hari-priya and Prema-vilsa prabhu. Brajanth dsa: For Hindi, too, Gurudeva. O Praka prabhu too. Whoever has worked on your Hindi and English publications need to sign. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Indian and America law is the same? Brajanth dsa: Yes, for international copyrights. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, my books are now international. Vivambhara dsa: Universal, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You have all made them like that. Vivambhara dsa: You have inspired us. You have given us intelligence, energy, and everything. Otherwise we are useless; nothing.
June 5, 2007
Dar sana
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Lok, tomato, urad-dhal, and certain other foodstuffs are to be strictly given up during puruottamavrata3. This system has been designed by scriptures. It is important to take up renunciation and stop the desire to enjoy. Sense gratification needs to be gradually given up. At present, your tongue hankers for various tastes: This is sweet, this is salty, this is beautiful, etc. Actually, it is your mind wanting all this, not your tm (soul). Such hankering has no connection with your tm, and for this reason it is good that you are slowly, slowly, able to give up the desire for these things. In ancient times, our kings gave up all sense gratification as soon as they reached fifty years of age. They gave up all family
125
life, and ate only tasteless fruits, roots, and leaves of the forest. Sometimes they would chew leaves, and sometimes they would eat dry chickpeas. In this way they would give up sense gratification and practice renunciation from material things to the point that later they would even give up these edibles and rely only on air. In fact, they would finally give up even air and thus attain Parabrahma, the Supreme Lord. As long as you remain attached to material things, like I would like to eat some halv or rabri, and you desire to enjoy material things, you will not be able to perform uddha-bhakti, or pure devotion. This is why our scriptures tell us to give up all these things. [To an Indian devotee, in Hindi] Are you following puruottamavrata? No? Why not? Do you fear giving up tomatoes? You must definitely observe puruottama-vrata. Meat, fish, onions, and garlic should not be taken at all. If you eat these things, your consciousness degrades to the mode of ignorance. Stay away from all these things. The Lords devotion is performed by chanting His holy name. It has been told in scriptures that if you are not chanting His names, you will be born as a donkey, pig, sheep, and chicken in your next lives; and nobody will be able to stop this on your behalf. You must chant harinma. [To a Western devotee] You should chant harinma hare ka hare ka. You will then be liberated from this miserable world and never come back. It is very easy. You can chant in the day-time, night-time, even while walking; and at the same time you should not take eggs, meat, wine, and all such abominable things. [To an Indian devotee, in Hindi] Now I will go to do some writing (translation work). Be happy in bhakti. May the Supreme Lords blessings be upon you. nit ds: We are writing a report for a Houston newspaper and also for the hari-kath newsletter. [regarding the rmad-Bhgavatam classes, given by rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja, in Houston. Following Vedic tradition, on the first day of rla Mahrjas harikath, there was a procession around the temple, wherein the leader of the procession carried rmad-Bhgavatam on his head and others, behind him, carried kalaas (waterpots) on their heads.] We need to know the significance of the kalaas. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The Bhgavatam is going in procession, and we are following. The kalaa contains water, mango leaves, a swastika, and a coconut. These are all very auspicious 126
Houston
items, so we accept them for the auspiciousness of this occasion. Ladies wear beautiful garments and carry the kalaas on their heads. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: The kalaa is brought for any auspicious ritual ceremony, to bring auspiciousness. rati ds: Then, after the ceremony, the water is sprinkled over everyone and the coconut is distributed to everyone as prasdam. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yes.
June 8, 2007
Airport Dar sana
ymar ds: Gurudeva, when the devotees translated your kath in Houston about the rsa dance, they quoted you as saying that Ka showed that He was dancing with His own shadow and that nobody cares about ones own shadow. So, Ka was dancing with the gops, but He was not attached to them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That was not the meaning. As an ordinary boy plays with his shadow without attachment, in the same way Ka was also playing with His shadow. The gops are like His shadow. The words Ka has no attachment mean that He was not controlled by the gops lust; and the gops also had no lust. ymar ds: So when you say attachment, you mean material lust? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Devotee: Gurudeva, the majars are also present in the rsa-ll. Are they participating, or are they serving? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is not a subject matter to be discussed at present. Once you come to that stage after successfully performing bhajana, you will understand all this by yourself. Devotee: Gurudeva, in Vraja, the Pavas are still performing austerities to attain vraja-bhakti. Have they not attained this yet? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is not so easy to attain vrajabhakti. They will have to perform austerities for millions of years. 127
Devotee: Then how will I attain it? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There is a reason why you will be able to attain it. You are performing one-pointed devotion under the guidance of Vrajavss, and you have been serving Rdh-Ka from the beginning. The Pavas initially served Dvrakdha Ka. Therefore it is harder for them, and it is easier for you, to attain it. It is easy for those who have taken shelter of Caitanya Mahprabhu. Devotee: You mentioned that in Bhgavatam Ka is called Keava, meaning He who combs Rdhrs hair, and then you also gave another meaning. Is there any difference between the two meanings? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ka refers to Brahm, a refers to akara, and va refers to their worshipful Deity, Ka, or Keava. Devotee: So, are They different? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are the same person. Devotee: What is the duty of the daughter to her father when her father is all alone? I am asking this because after marriage the daughter cannot do anything independently. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The daughter will do whatever is easily done. Daughters are dear to the father, and sons are dear to the mother. The daughter will have affection for the father and do whatever is appropriate. At the time of marriage, the father gives something to the groom so that the daughter is maintained. At all times, the son will do whatever he can do to maintain his parents. Devotee: Is the daughter obligated to do something? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Only if the father becomes unable to do anything for himself, or is very poor, Devotee: Sometimes there are no sons in the family. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In India, when the father gives his daughter in marriage, like a charity,4 he never accepts anything from the daughter even if he is helpless. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He never even accepts water.
4 In the Vedic system this is called kany-dna, or giving ones daughter in charity,
meaning that the father gives his daughter to a suitable young man for her care and protection.
128
Houston
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Because he has already given his daughter away, he doesnt even drink water at the house of the sonin-law or at the house of the daughters in-laws. Devotee: Can he honor prsadam at his daughters house? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In India [in traditional times], he would not do this. Devotee: I am asking whether the father should follow the same customs here in the U.S. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Here in the U.S. it is not possible to follow the same customs, because this place is bhoga-rjya, the kingdom of sense enjoyment. It is like Svarga, the heavenly planets. Here it is not easy to do sdhana, as there are so many objects of sense gratification and twenty-four hour-a-day-desires I want a car, and so many things like that. Devotee: And still there is no peace. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Everyone wants two of everything; two cars, and so on. [To another devotee] You can sit on a chair. [To another devotee] Dont cry. Why are you crying? You are building a maha, temple, here. I will come to your maha. I will also stay with you and speak hari-kath. Devotee: Gurudeva, please call us to come to Badger. Your programs in Badger are always so nice, but we havent been able to go there. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: We do not need to call you. You can come. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Havent the programs been good here? They are not good, and that is why you want to go there? Devotee: No, the programs here have been very good. But no matter how much we take your darana, it is still not enough. Devotee: Mahrjaj, Akaya prabhu did a lot of service this time for your programs. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Didnt he go to his office for work? Devotees: No Mahrjaj, he was always busy here, doing some service. He was always helping in the kitchen, and also bringing so 129
many things. In the evenings he cleaned everything and then went home. Sometimes it was midnight by the time he reached home. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Everyone did so much endeavor. Rdhr ds: This morning, Premamay dd called and also offered her daavat prama (prostrated obeisances). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She will become a big doctor. Rdhr ds: By your mercy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When she did her exams, she got 99%. Rdhr ds: She was quite sick at that time, but due to your mercy she got such a high grade. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: ymar will be here for two to four days. Where will she stay? Devotee: With Lakm dd. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To ymar ds] You will speak hari-kath to them. Houston is like a mini-India. The area where I was staying with the devotees is just like a mini-India. Bimal ds: Gurudeva, two years ago, a big hurricane was supposed to pass through Houston. But it didnt come. In my mind I was always thinking that because of Gurudeva it didnt come. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It was due to Bhagavn. Bimal ds: No, it was by your mercy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To a guest] Why arent you taking harinma? What lacking is there in you? Are you eating meat and fish? Guest: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You must give this up, otherwise those animals will eat you. Msa, meat.5 At present you are happily eating meat. But when those animals eat you in the future, you will be in distress. So quickly, today, give up eating meat, fish, and so on. Dont gamble, and dont engage in any immoral or cheating activities. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: We need to go to the gate.
5 Msa is the Hindi word for meat. See Endnote 4, at the end of this chapter.
130
Houston
ENDNOTES
1
The following is a transcription of the copyright darana in Navadvpa, March 13, 2009. In your reading, it may sometimes seem that even though rla Gurudeva has already answered a particular question, it is again asked in a couple of different ways. It may seem that Maju dd, rla Gurudevas disciple-lawyer, didnt hear or understand rla Gurudeva the first time, and that is why she asked the same or similar question again and again. After the darana she explained the reason for this. It is that the series of questions were in deposition format, to see whether or not the answers would be consistent. She did this with a desire to make his statements more clear to us. Prior to this meeting with rla Gurudeva, Maju dd met with Brajanth prabhu for nearly two hours, discussing copyright, from the extremes of all rights reserved to all in the public domain to the various options in between (e.g., the various contracts offered by Creative Commons). Maju dd and Brajanth prabhu went over the questions so he could understand them before going into meet with rla Gurudeva. These questions were printed out for rla Gurudeva, Brajanth, and rpda Mdhava Mahrja to review during the darana: Maju ds: Gurudeva, this will help me decide how strong a copyright protection to put on your books whether we go one extreme or the other extreme, or somewhere in the middle. Brajanth dsa: In copyrights, there are many [options]. You can say, No one can do, or Some can do, or [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja reads Question 1a] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have no objection if anyone in the world produces my books, as is, with my name, with or without permission; it is ok. Anyone can do so. But, second [he read the second question number 1b] not; someone elses name cannot be there. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It must be your name, not anothers name. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not others. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja reads Question 2] 131
Brajanth dsa: Suppose ISKCON BBT says, We want to produce your books. We will print two million books for distribution. And they earn some profit with that. Any objection? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should decide. Brajanth dsa: I think no objection, because your books will go, your message will be known, and by that profit they will distribute more books. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They can do that. Brajanth dsa: 3a If your books are there, and someone wants to make changes and put your name on it rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. Maju ds: Even if there is one [original book] available and it is good, proper, with your name on it, someone cant [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja shook His head indicating no.] You dont want that rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I dont want any change. All books should be as I have written them. Brajanth dsa: Unless you give permission for any change rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why will I give permission? Brajanth dsa: Suppose they [those who made the original book] have made mistake rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Then. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: That is another thing. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If there is any mistake, then they can make a correction; otherwise not. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja reads Question 3b] Brajanth dsa: Do you want us to take legal action if a book comes out in your name that contains apasiddhnta (wrong philosophy)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Maju ds: You want us to take legal action? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes.
132
Houston
Brajanth dsa: Anyone may say, This is the book of my guru mahrja, but so many apasiddhntas are there. We can try to reconcile by debate, but if needed, we may take legal actions. Number 4 Do you want all the rights of the books while you are manifest in this world? Or can the authors retain rights? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What does this mean? Brajanth dsa: It means that if Prema-vilsa prabhu has translated your lectures and has said, I am the translator. I acknowledge that Gurudeva has the copyright, but I want to publish this when I want. Any problem with that? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What do you think? Brajanth dsa: I think there is no problem. If anyone wants to publish, it is no problem. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: As long as it is in rla Gurudevas name. Maju ds: Can I ask a follow-up to number 4? Is it okay if an original contributor wants to control any changes, so that we would have to go to them and ask for permission; like to Prema-vilsa? Brajanth dsa: Or Navadvpa prabhu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What? Brajanth dsa: If Prema-vilsa or Navadvpa have made contributions to some title, like Mana-ik or Bhakti-rasyana, and we want to make some changes because some mistake is there rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can change. Brajanth dsa: But if Navadvpa prabhu says, You need to ask permission rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why will they say that? Brajanth dsa: They have some right because they have done the translation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Then what should we do? Brajanth dsa: If we have good relations with them. Maybe Premavilsa prabhu would say, I like my style, and it is written well. If you want to change it, please consult with me. It is proper etiquette. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: So, you can do that.
133
Maju ds: Thats okay? If they want us to ask them every time we want to reprint, thats okay? Brajanth dsa: Officially they should give permission to reprint, because they have translated the book. I think they will have no objection for reprints. They may say in writing that, In the future you have the right to print, as long as the original is kept. We should ask them. Maju ds: But do we have to go through the step of asking? Is that okay? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja indicates by nodding that it would be okay.] Brajanth dsa: Certainly. Maju ds: They could say no. Brajanth dsa: We can ask them, and then they can say [write], Any time in the future, you can reprint. Maju ds: I would like to try to get that [permission for any reprints, if an assignment of all rights to rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja cannot be obtained.6] rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It is better that they do it once. We dont know what will happen after Gurudeva departs. They may say, We want royalty. We did this Maju ds: I will try [to get an assignment of all rights for all time], but if I dont get that, I want to know where to draw the line. Brajanth dsa: Number 5 In the future, are you willing for the original contributors to put conditions on how the books are published? Or, should the books be put in public domain? This means that suppose you say, In the future, anyone can publish my books, no matter who it is. All my followers can print my books, or any third party can do so. I have no objection to this. Someone may say, I have edited this book, or translated this book, and in the future, I want the right to approve
6 Since the time of this darana (March 2009), most of the main contributors to the
English publications signed assignments granting rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja their rights to the books. (nit ds)
134
Houston
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is not good. Maju ds: If it is in the public domain or if anyone can publish, its not an issue. But what if there are derivatives or changes made; should the original contributors be brought in and have rights? What if they dont like what the BTI or GVP are doing? Should they have rights? Brajanth dsa: In the future, lets say we want to change something; the language has to be changed rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I think it is not proper. Why [should it be changed]? Then it will be changed, changed, changed, so much changed. Brajanth dsa: Better they write new books. Maju ds: After you are not with us, should Tridai Mahrja, as an original translator, have a right to say what the changes are? Brajanth dsa: Lets say he has translated Bhagavad-gt in English, and we all approve [and say that] it is proper. You have approved. An editorial board has approved. In the future, if anyone wants to make changes in the book, should Tridai Mahrja have any authority to be consulted? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is good. Brajanth dsa: Number 6a Would you like your works to be carried forward as you do for the cryas and elaborated on, since their works are in the public domain with the one exception being rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja? Like now, you are giving some extra commentaries on the commentaries of rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura, rla Santana Gosvmpda, and rla rdhara Svm. Can any learned crya in the future use your books and write some commentary? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They can do so. Brajanth dsa: Like you are using the edition of Bhakti rrpa Siddhnt Mahrja. Number 6b In essence, do you want your words to be put in the public domain? This means that anyone can publish your books. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes.
135
Maju ds: Anyone can publish your books, anyone can change your books, or do anything with your words, if we put them in the public domain. It is free for anyone to say, I could change it. Brajanth dsa: She is telling that they can change your books, but we will not allow. We have to hold on to that. Anyone can publish if is unchanged. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded indicating agreement with Brajanth dsa.] Brajanth dsa: Then, 6c Would you like your words protected and controlled like the BBT? Many disciples want to publish the books of their guru mahrja [rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, rla Prabhupda], but BBT controls that. Would you like us to do that? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. Brajanth dsa: In the future, if there are mistakes in your books, do you want corrections to be made? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Brajanth dsa: What if the errors and corrections originated in the Hindi? Should they be transferred into the English? Your Hindi edition is original. In the future [it may be seen that] some slight mistakes may be there grammar, a typo, or some misunderstanding. If we change it in Hindi, we should change it in English? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded indicating yes.] Brajanth dsa: What if the errors are simply typographical or grammatical, and changing them would not change the meaning? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded indicating it was okay to fix them.] Brajanth dsa or Mdhava Mahrja: No difficulty with that. Maju ds: No problem. Brajanth dsa: [Reading question 7b] In the future, do you want an editorial board to control corrections of your books? Like maybe you say Bhakti Trust, GVP, or rpda Trtha Mahrja, or rpda Mdhava Mahrja, or any Vaiava who has a deep understanding and who is qualified should be consulted if any corrections need to be made.
136
Houston
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In Hindi, I think no need of corrections. It is all right. Brajanth dsa: Or, what about in English or any other language? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In English you can see. Brajanth dsa: Like rpda Trtha Mahrja, rpda Mdhava Mahrja, ymar; or you can name any who are rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In English they can do. Brajanth dsa: So an editorial board Vaijayanti-ml [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded indicating agreement.] Brajanth dsa: [Reading question 7c] In the future do you want anyone to control translations of your books? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What does this mean? Brajanth dsa: It means that if the books need to be translated into other languages, some legal entity should give permission for that, or not? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If anyone wants to translate into Russian language, he can translate. Brajanth dsa: Suppose we say we have some Russian editorial board that is approved by you or by our devotees. Then we will recommend, Please, if you do things proper, then you can use our logo, if we have any official logo that is well-known around the world. Other than that, who wants to translate and publish, we will have no objection. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can do what is good. Brajanth dsa: For example, if a devotee wants to make a book and put their own name, we have no objection. If they puts your name, we may have some objection. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded indicating agreement with Brajanth dsa.] Maju ds: So we want to control the translations? Yes? Brajanth dsa: Yes, correct? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded, indicating yes.]
137
Maju ds: Do you have any suggestions as to how we can facilitate future pure Vaiavas in using your words and building on them and commenting on them? Any suggestions you might have will be helpful for us. Brajanth dsa: If any Vaiava wants to publish Bhagavad-gt and wants to insert your commentary, any objection? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: But Gurudevas name must be there. It must say that it was taken from here. Maju ds: Gurudevas name must be associated with the work. Is that acceptable Gurudeva? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nodded indicating agreement with Maju.] Brajanth dsa: Only acknowledgement is required. We will inform them, if we are around [still alive], to acknowledge that this is coming from you.
2
Copyright darana in Houston, May 29, 2009:
Maju ds: What we are doing, and nit is helping me, is making sure your wishes with respect to your books and copyrights are respected. We want to record a summary for our team. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I told everything to Brajanth. Maju ds: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Brajanth has not written what I told? Maju ds: He wrote, but nit is going to summarize your words for our team, so our team can see. We have Ka-kruya, Jayagopla, Vaijayanti-ml nit ds: There are many international languages. They want to know how they should manage translations. Maju ds: So we will quickly summarize. Brajanth dsa: There are two or three questions. Maju ds: Yes, nit will ask them quickly, so we can get your confirmation.
138
Houston
nit ds: So, you want GVP Inc. to manage English books; and Hindi if they are asked to help; yes? [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja nods] nit ds: Okay. And anyone can translate your books as long as they give you permission also to print and publish and make changes to your books? Brajanth dsa: Whoever wants to translate your books, they can do so. But rights should also be given to you, to publish the same book. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. You have not already written all I told? Brajanth dsa: Yes, but they want to have a little recording, so that those who have any doubts can see. nit ds: For the future, if there is any question, everyone knows your desire. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will sign on the Will? Brajanth dsa: No, this is for book publishing. Maju ds: This is for book publishing. I will draft a contract that you will sign. This will all be in the contract. This helps me to understand your wishes. nit ds: Okay, so for different language books you can publish, the translator can also publish, and GVP can publish; okay? [rla Mahrja nods] nit ds: If there is a need to make changes, you said that there should be an editorial board, and the editorial board should consult the translators. If there is any dispute, they can consult sdhu, guru, stra? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. nit ds: You said in Navadvpa that you want people to [be allowed to] make commentaries for your books. So, it may be that somebody may make some incorrect or opposite (apa) siddhnta. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, they cannot. nit ds: Okay.
139
Brajanth dsa: Suppose a devotee wants to write some of their own ideas; some may be good, some may be against siddhnta. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: An editorial board will judge after me. As long as I am here, I am doing [judging], but after that. Maju ds: The only thing we are worried about is that if some crya in the future comes and conditions souls do not recognize him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What? Brajanth dsa: She is telling that in ISKCON they dont see that you are crya. They think your writing is not authentic not everybody thinks like that, but some do. So it may happen in the future that someone is thinking, as Maju dd is using this example, that even though nit ds: If an crya comes in the future, but GVP, who are conditioned souls, do not see this is the crya, and they stop Brajanth dsa: Sdhu, stra, and guru. That is the rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: most important. nit ds: OKay, but the editorial board should decide who makes commentaries? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, [they should decide] whether it is according to stras, guru, Vaiavas. Maju ds: So lets confirm, because its a little different from what we thought yesterday. So if someone comes along an crya or lets say I come along and I want to write a commentary and I dont know what I am talking about. But someone else comes along, who is an crya and does know what he is talking about, and he writes something. We need to be able to have a mechanism to stop me, but not him. Or we allow me to do it, them to do it, and others will write and say that I am stupid and I dont know what I am talking about, but that person does. It will be the community of senior Vaiavas that will correct things, but I wont be prevented from making incorrect statements and making my writing? Brajanth dsa: Do you understand? Regarding Bhagavad-gt, so many translations are there, but when you use Bhagavad-gt you
140
Houston
will take Gita Press. You will take one particular Bhagavad-gt for reference that is authentic. Or when you use any book, like Bhadbhgavatmta rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I take the authentic Bengali, by Siddhnt Mahrja or by others, not Gita Press. Brajanth dsa: Okay. So, for any book there may be other transla tions, but you dont have so much value for them. It may happen in the future that regarding the books you have published, some may make commentaries on that. Some [commentaries] may be authentic, and some may not be so authentic. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What can you do? Brajanth dsa: Nothing. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Nothing to do. We cut the arguments of akarcrya; what can they do? nit ds: Vaiavas correct. If there is any bad commentary, the Vaiavas will correct. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And also what we tell, others can tell that it is not correct. Maju ds: It will be rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Nothing to do. Brajanth dsa: Because there are so many different approaches. Maju ds: Yes, we would not necessarily know who was rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Regarding any disciple, he should not do it. Maju ds: Okay. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: For others, you cannot check... Maju ds: So rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By writing or telling that, Your arguments are [proven] wrong by this argument. Maju ds: So, well let anyone make commentaries, but well also monitor the commentaries and have others write responses to those commentaries.
141
Brajanth dsa: Anything which is incorrect, not according to the Gauya Vaiava pure bhakti line, the teachings of Rpa Gosvm, we will give correction. Maju ds: Okay, we will correct. So, well allow and correct. Brajanth dsa: An editorial board. nit ds: Anyone can publish a part of your book if they give you credit? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, yes. nit ds: Okay, and no changes also. Brajanth dsa: And acknowledgement. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They give acknowledgement that it is taken from there. nit ds: And anyone can make an audio recording of part of your book, and also a drama play? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, yes. nit ds: Okay. Brajanth dsa: But that should be favorable for bhakti and Gurudevas reputation. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yes, yes. nit ds: According to your teachings. US law allows copyright for seventy-five years after the life of the author. Do you want to make it less time? After seventy-five years anybody can make any changes; credit or no credit. Do you want to make it for less time? Brajanth dsa: In America they have a law that anyone can file copyright for any publications. That copyright will expire after some time. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I am not copying copyright. Brajanth dsa: No [I didnt mean that]. You say, Whoever takes something from my books should give acknowledgement. In America they have a seventy-five-year time limit. After that, a publication becomes public domain.
142
Houston
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, no problem. We have nothing to do with this. Maju ds: Okay, do you want to make it less time, or seventy-five years? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Full time. An excerpt from the article r Puruottama Vrata in r Jaganntha Pur, published in Rays of the Harmonist, No.9 (Winter 2001), written by Mdhava-priya dsa: The last fifteen days of r puruottama-vrata (vrata means vow) were observed in r Puruottama-dhma, r Jaganntha Pur. During these days, more than six hundred devotees assembled from different parts of India and all over the world, despite worldwide terrorism problems. They were blessed with the fortune to hear profuse hari-kath, and to perform parikram of r Jaganntha Pur and neighboring areas under the guidance of r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. In his opening speech on the first day, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja said, This year we are very fortunate due to the observance of puruottama-vrata as part of Cturmsya7. We have got the fortune to partake in the most auspicious activities, the nine limbs of bhakti, in this most rare human life, under the guidance of exalted Vaiavas in r Jaganntha Pur Dhma. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja then requested rpda Bhaktivednta Madhusdana Mahrja [formerly Ka-kpa dsa] to explain from the astrological point of view how Puruottama month appears after every two years and eight months. Mahrja then explained that, according to Srya Siddhnta, one solar month is thirty days whereas one lunar month is twenty-nine and a half days. This means that in one month there is a difference of half a day between the lunar month and solar month, and in twelve months, the difference is six days. Also, according to the solar calendar, twelve solar months is equal to 360 days. However, the earth completes its rotation around the sun in 365 days and six hours; thus there are five extra days. 6 + 5 days + 6 hours = 11 days + 6 hours extra in one solar year,
7 Cturmsya is the yearly four month time period, during the rainy season (August to November), in which the practice of certain prescribed austerities are very potent for spiritual development. 3
143
22 days + 12 hours extra in two solar years, and thirty days extra in 2 years 8 months 16 days and 4 hours of the solar calendar. Thus there is an extra month, a gap between the calculation by lunar month and solar month. In order to bring both months into equilibrium, one month would have to be subtracted in every two years, eight months, sixteen days and four hours. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja explained that the name Puruottama does not refer to Mah-Viu or Vaikuha-ntha Nryaa, or even to Ka of Dvrak or Mathur. Puruottama, the name of the presiding Deity of this month, refers to none other than Vrajendra-nandana ymasundara Himself, the worshipable Deity of the Gauys; He is Golokapati Ka. How did this extra month get the name Puruottama? Being belittled by twelve other months, the presiding Deity of this extra month approached Brahmj, who took him to Vaikuha-ntha Nryaa. Hearing the plight of the extra month, Nryaa then took him to Golokapati Ka, who bestowed all His qualities upon the extra month and became its presiding Deity. rla Bhaktivinoda hkura has given a vivid description of this month in his article The glories of r Puruottama Month, published in the previous issue of Rays of the Harmonist [No.8, Summer 2001]. The following is an excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Jaganntha Pur, India, August 4, 2004: Puruottama month comes in the leap year every thirty-two months. Previously this month was known as mala-msa. Mala means unclean, contaminated, and suitable for being rejected. This was considered the rejectable month, because stra says about it: You should not perform any ritualistic activities, such as getting married or receiving the sacred thread according to the principles of varrama-dharma. All of these materially auspicious activities are stopped during this month. No one is permitted to perform any of them, and so this month was known as mala-msa, the contaminated month. The personification of this month approached r Ka and said to Him, Oh my Lord, all in this world despise and condemn me, because they cannot perform any auspicious fruitive activities in my presence. I take complete shelter of You and surrender to You. What should I do?
144
Houston
Ka explains in the Gt: sarva-dharmn parityajya mm eka araa vraja aha tv sarva-ppebhyo mokayiymi m uca Bhagavad-gt (18.66)
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
Give up all types of material religiosity and surrender to Me unconditionally. I will take away all reactions to your sinful activities; do not fear. Ka replied to Mala-msa, I will take away all your contamination, because you are surrendered unto Me. I myself will become the predominating Deity of this month. From now on the people will not call you Mala-msa. Instead they will call you Puruottama-msa. During this month they will observe puruottama-vrata, the very auspicious activities of devotional service, in Puruottama-ketra. This month should be observed by following the rules and regulations one follows during Krtika month. rmat Rdhik is the predominating Deity in the month of Krtika, and Ka is the predominating Deity of Puruottama-msa. One should not perform any material pious activities (ubhakarma) in this month. Instead of being derailed into material activities, one should become one-pointed and do one-pointed vows for the happiness of Ka. Only perform service to Hari, Guru, and Vaiavas, chant harinma, and stay near Puruottama-deva. For those who observe this vow, it is certain that all their desires will be fulfilled. All so-called auspicious activities of this world, such as performing duties within varrama-dharma and getting married, will have no value if one does not perform bhajana and if Ka is not pleased. Therefore, all the devotees who have assembled here to observe puruottama-vrata in Puruottama-ketra, at the birthplace of rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura, are supremely fortunate.
4
You should hear the meaning of meat. The spelling of meat in English is M-E-A-T. M-E, me. E-A-T, eat. Those who eat meat will be eaten by those whom they eat. If you are taking fish, meat, eggs, and cows, those animals will become human beings and you will
145
become she-goats, cows, eggs, and so on, and they will eat you. So, be careful (rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. Lecture in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December 14, 2000). Now this question may be raised why are so many cows being killed in the slaughterhouse. The answer is that those who are killing cows, according to the decision of karma-ka, these killers of cows will in their next life be cows, and the cows who are killed will become men and kill the killers. The word flesh is called msa which means the animal in future will kill me and eat. This is called karma bandhanam, bound up by the laws of karma. If you kill some living being, he will kill you in the next life. According to Manu-sahit, the Vedic law-book, a murderer is hanged and thereby released from sinful activities, so that in the next life he may not be killed. Life-for-life sentence is given to end the result of sinful activities in this life instead of waiting for the next life. Unfortunately, people at the present moment do not know what is the next life, what is this life, what is karma, how one becomes entangled, and how one becomes free (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Letter to Alfred Ford, Los Angeles, July 16, 1974*).
146
147
San Francisco
June 13, 2007

Dar sana After the Walk
rpda Sajjana Mahrja: One of my god-brothers has a sentimental relationship with another god-brother and has, up to now, accepted him as a ik-guru. He is in saffron cloth. He is worried that he will have to give up being a brahmacr, because his ik-guru wants him to put on white cloth, get married, and engage in business. He is now attracted to your teachings and wants to do bhajana. I heard that if the guru tells a disciple to get married, that disciple can reject his order. Is this true? Or, would the bona fide guru never give this instruction? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why is that guru saying this? If he were bona fide, he would not say this. He can be rejected. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: My god-brother is now rejecting his ikguru, and he is accepting you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A bona fide guru would not say, Oh, you are a brahmacr; you should get married. Has rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja said this? No. And I would also never say this.1 The bona-fide guru laments for that former brahmacr, thinking, I warned him, but still he insisted on being married. In our eyes, that brahmacr has gone down. Do you understand? If a person is engaged in Kas service and hearing sweet pastimes of Ka, the life history of Prahlda Mahrja, the glories of Hanumn, the Pavas, and Uddhava, and superior to them, the gops he should be able to give up material life forever, as rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm, rla Rpa Gosvm, rla Santana Gosvm, and rla Gopala Bhaa Gosvm have done. We follow them. We inspire disciples to give up worldly life, but they do the opposite. They take sannysa and then again marry. If you are actually preaching the mission of our guru-parampar, you will not deviate. If you are chanting, but not preaching and not hearing hari-kath from superiors, you will certainly become weak. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: In Badger, in 2004, you said that if someone is worshiping one hundred lagrma-ils every day,
149
but has no taste for hearing hari-kath, he will fall down from his position in bhakti. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, he will sell or distribute his lagrmas. rpda raut Mahrja: You said that this is like cutting a tree in pieces and then giving water to the different parts. In that case there will be no benefit to the tree. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Nothing. yath taror mla-niecanena tpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopakh propahrc ca yathendriy tathaiva sarvrhaam acyutejy rmad-Bhgavatam (4.31.14)
[As pouring water on the root of a tree energizes the trunk, branches, twigs, and everything else, and as supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality.*]
If you water the leaves and flowers of a tree, but not the root, the leaves and flowers must die. On the other hand, if you give water only to the root, all the leaves and flowers will automatically be watered. If you give water to both the roots and flowers, the flowers will rot. If you give food to your mouth and also to your eyes, what will happen? It is better to put the food only in the mouth and not in any other part of the body. rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: But Ka can eat with His eyes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This has been told for the jvas of this world. It has been said in the Vedic scriptures that Acyuta (a name of r Ka, meaning infallible) is the root of the entire world. If you simply please, worship, and serve Him, the entire world is benefited. [Speaking with Ka-dev from Italy, who has just phoned] Hare Ka. Oh, my heartly blessings to you, and to your daughter and sons. I was just asking your husband about you. I think you are translating one of my books now? Very good. You should preach and translate books. 150
San Francisco
Your daughter is okay? What is she doing now? Very good. I want to come to Italy again, for another hari-kath festival there on the lake. It is very beautiful there. I have just told your Prabhu (husband) to arrange this, and we may come there in the summer-time. When Prabhu returns, please discuss this with him and make a plan. Giridhr dsa: In the stage of anihit-bhakti (unsteady bhakti, the stage of bhakti wherein the practitioner is still full of anarthas that act as obstacles to his advancement), is there some sequence of how the symptoms come and go, or can they come and go at any time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There must be some sequence. Giridhr dsa: They wont come, for example, two at a time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They may all be present at the same time. But gradually one after another will be given up. The first symptom is utsha-may (false confidence) and then ghana-tarala (sporadic endeavor). First he will learn something, and in learning something he will have taste and sometimes not. Then there is vydha-vikalp (indecision), visaya-sagar (struggle with the senses), niymksam (inability to uphold vows), and taraga-rangin (enjoying the facilities offered by bhakti). There is a sequence. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva, raut Mahrja remembers so much hari-kath, but when you ask him to give class, he becomes shy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To rpda raut Mahrja] You should preach boldly. When you give class, you can think that those in the audience are like dry straws, knowing nothing. rpda raut Mahrja: What if they think the same thing about me while I am speaking? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You must think that way about them. Then you can speak; otherwise, you will be too shy. I see that our preachers like Vana Mahrja, Nemi Mahrja, and Trtha Mahrja go alone to a specific country, and so many devotees follow them and join their party as they travel in that country. It will be good if you do that too. Dont be discouraged. You know so much hari-kath. You must do this. Dont be weak.
151
rpda raut Mahrja: But these preachers are traveling all over the world. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can also do that. You can travel all over France; you can go to Nigeria and so many other places. rpda Nemi Mahrja: raut Mahrja thinks that you ordered him not to leave Toulouse. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I suggested that he preach there only because he knows French. The devotees there should be helped. Brajanth dsa: If he stays there, he loses his inspiration. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In that case he need not remain there. Vnd-dev ds: There are so many countries where people speak only French. He is our only French sannys. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, yes. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: For example, the people speak French in Montreal, French Guyana, Trinidad, and Mauritius. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He can preach there.
June 14, 2007

rpda Nemi Mahrja: The first time you came to the Western countries, you said that while devotees chant japa, they can divide their meditation into four parts one part for remembering Vraja Mandala parikram (visiting the holy places in Vndvana where Ka performed His transcendental pastimes) rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This instruction was for general persons. Those who have just begun chanting can remember Vrajamaala parikram. They can perform parikram of Govardhana and Vndvana in their minds, and they can offer flowers to all the Deities there. Those who are more advanced will meditate on Kas pastimes corresponding to His different names: 152
San Francisco
tan-nma-rpa-caritdi-sukrtannusmtyo kramea rasan-manas niyojya tihan vraje tad-anurgi jannugm kla nayed akhilam ity upadea-sram Upademta (Verse 8)
[While living in Vraja as a follower of the eternal residents of Vraja, who possess inherent spontaneous love for r Ka, one should utilize all his time by sequentially engaging the tongue and the mind in meticulous chanting and remembrance of Kas names, form, qualities, and pastimes. This is the essence of all instruction.]
While chanting the name of Ka, Dmodara, Govinda, or Gopnatha, such devotees remember the sweet pastimes of that name. When chanting the name of Govinda, what sweet pastimes should we remember? We should remember His rsa dance with the gops. What is the meaning of Gopntha? It means He whose masters are the gops. The special feature in the rsa dance is that Ka is controlled by the gops and is begging for their love. He tells them, I cannot repay you. This is Gopntha. It is stated in rmad-Bhgavatam (10.32.22): na praye ha niravadya-sayuj sva-sdhu-ktya vibudhyupi va y mbhajan durjara-geha-khal savcya tad va pratiytu sdhun
[My dear gops, our meeting is certainly free of all material contamination. I must admit that even with the lifetime of a demigod it would be impossible for Me to repay My debt to you because you have cut off the shackles of family life which are so difficult to break, just to search for Me. Consequently I am unable to repay you. Therefore, please be satisfied with your saintly activities in this regard.]
r Ka as Madana-mohana is very beautiful. He is the son of Yaod and Nanda Bb, and He is the Cupid of Cupids. One can remember Him weeping as Mother Yaod tries to bind Him. This is Madana-mohana. Those who are more advanced can remember r Kas aaklya-ll (His pastimes throughout each twenty-four-hour period), and those who are still more elevated can remember something 153
more. There is no single instruction or meditation that applies to all. Devotees remembrance is in accordance with their gradation and qualification in bhakti. Svitr ds: [Introducing a young man] Guru Mahrja, this gentleman is from Belgium. I met him yesterday at the laundry shop and spoke to him. He is doing yoga and meditation, and he understood the philosophy as I shared it with him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To the young man] Can you meditate on my father? Young man: I dont understand what you mean. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva is asking if you can meditate on his father. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do you know him? Young man: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Then how can you meditate on the Supreme Lord? Have you seen Him? Young man: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In this iron-age of Kali-yuga (the age of quarrel and hypocrisy), meditation begins by chanting the r Ka will then give you a vision of names of the Supreme Lord.2 Himself, and then you will be able to meditate on Him. In Kali-yuga there is no possibility of meditation in the early stages of spiritual development. Meditation begins at an advanced stage. Do you know a blackish boy, playing on His flute with His cows and friends in Vndvana? Young man: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Svitr ds] Please explain all these truths to him. Teach him how to meditate; how to chant and remember Ka. Without chanting, you cannot be happy at any time in your life. Do you know who has created you? Who has given you intelligence? Young man: Nature. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, not nature. Why has material nature not given the same intelligence to animals as it has
154
San Francisco
given you? Intelligence comes from the Supreme Lord, who is very merciful. You should chant His name; then you can meditate, and gradually you will mature in your spiritual life. Gaura premnande hari haribol.
June 16, 2007

Morning Walk
rpda Trida Mahrja: Youve created a wonderful mood. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: My Guru Mahrja and rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja are telling me everything in my heart. What I speak is not mine. Like a parrot, I am only repeating what they have told me. Devotee: You are a transparent via medium [meaning, They are working through you]. rpda Trida Mahrja: You are giving your heart to us. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You are all preaching Padmanbha Mahrja, Nemi Mahrja, raut Mahrja, Rdh-knta prabhu, Muni Mahrja, Vaiava Mahrja, and others. I am very happy that there are about thirty parties traveling around the world. Brajanth dsa: Today, about twenty devotees from China will call you for initiation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good preaching there. rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura used to say, I dont make disciples. I make gurus. Whomever he touched became guru. brahma trite akti dhare jane jane e veda pure gua gya jeb une r Vaiava-vandan (Verse 7) What is the meaning? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Pure Vaiavas are so powerful by the grace of their gurudeva that each of them can deliver an entire universe. They are glorified in the Vedas and Puras. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Dmodara Mahrja is also preaching very well. 155
Mahprabhu dsa: He spoke very well in Australia. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: The Mexican devotees are inviting you to come next year. They want to do Ratha-ytr. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will try. I want to go there, but now my age has control over my travels. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: You have written in Mdhurya-kadambin that Bhagavn has given his kpa-akti, the power of His mercy, to the Vaiavas. I am very astonished to read this. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva is the embodiment of Bhagavns kp-akti. When Bhagavns mercy becomes condensed and takes a form, that form is r guru. Devotee: May I have your blessings to come for Vraja-maala parikram? I have never been there. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I am inviting all of you to come. Brajanth dsa: He has a question regarding the difference between Pur and Navadvpa. He says that some disciples of Gour Govinda Mahrja assert that Pur is non-different from Vndvana, and it is the highest of the Lords pastime places. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Never, never. This is not told in any scripture. Gokula dsa: Guru Mahrja (rla Gour Govinda Mahrja) never said this. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We should know the difference between Navadvpa, Pur, and Godvar. Externally, there were generally not such discussions in navadvpa-ll as there were in Pur, where Mahprabhu bitterly wept in separation from Ka. Moreover in Godvar, in Mahprabhus conversations with Rya Rmnanda, the philosophical discussions were the most elevated. Mahprabhu and Rya Rmnanda discussed gop-bhva, rasatattva, ka-tattva, rdh-tattva, and prema-tattva. But it was in Navadvpa that Ka took birth as Mahprabhu, acnandana Gaurahari. Kas mother, father, and friends all took birth in Navadvpa-maala, or nearby. What did Mahprabhu do there? He did as Ka did in Vndvana. In Vndvana, Ka performed His aa-klya-ll, His pastimes performed during the eight divisions of each day. In
156
San Francisco
His aa-klya-ll He does not go to Mathur, nor does He perform His Dvrak pastimes, nor does He even take birth. During Kas pre-dawn pastimes (ninta-ll), Lalit and Vikh and other gops perform krtana while anticipating the awakening of Rdhik and Ka. uka and r, male and female parrots, speak many sweet words to awaken Them. Rdhik and Ka then awaken, They meet with the other gops, and soon after that They are obliged to separate. A little later in the morning there are other pastimes, like the meeting between ymal and rmat Rdhik. ymal wants to hear from Rdhiks lotus mouth how She and Ka enjoyed Their previous nights pastimes. At about 9:00am, Ka takes prasdam and goes cowherding. At midday He meets with the gops at Rdh-kua, and after that, the sweet pastimes of Ka at Srya-kua take place. Later, in the evening, when Ka returns to Vndvana from cowherding, all of the gops, who had been anxiously waiting to see Him, exchange glances with Him. Ka then goes home to take prasdam, and after that He performs His midnight ll. Where is Mathur in this aa-klya-ll? Where is Dvrak? It is not present at all. That same Ka, overwhelmed by the mood of Rdhik, takes birth in Navadvpa as acnandana Gaurahari. There He plays with His friends, like Gaddhara Paita, Jagadnanda Paita, Murri Gupta, Advaita crya, and so many others, and such pastimes are His aa-klya-ll. There are no pastimes of Jaganntha Pur in Navadvpa which is non-different from Vndvana because Jaganntha, Baladeva and Subhadr are only in Dvrak. When Ka is with Subhadr and Baladeva in Dvrak, He is devoid of His flute and peacock feather. He forgets that I am the son of Nanda Bb and Yaod. Instead He thinks, I am the son of Vasudeva and Devak. That Ka cannot enter the eightfold daily pastimes of Vndvana. Also, although the conversation between Rmnanda Rya and r Caitanya Mahprabhu (Rya-rmnanda-savda) that takes place in Godvar includes the highest of topics, and although Rasarja-mahbhva3 manifests there, still, that place is not equal to Vndvana, or even Dvrak.
157
Actually, r Ka and rmat Rdhik cannot take one step out of Vndvana. That Rdhik who never leaves Vndvana is Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik, and that Ka is Yaod-nandana and Nanda-nandana. Since They are always in Vndvana, who went to Dvrak? It was Kas expansion, Vsudeva-ka who went. The Rdhik who is in a separation mood in Nandagaon, weeping with the other gops for Ka who has gone to Mathur and Dvrak, is called Viyogin Rdhik. Viyogin means that Rdh and Ka are separated, whereas They are not separated in Vraja. When Ka goes to Kuruketra, He meets with Rdhik and the gops, at which time the gops want to bring Him back to Vraja. There, Rdhik is called Sayogn. Sayogn refers to Their meeting for a moment, for only a few days, and They are not fully meeting. [When Mahprabhu is singing to Lord Jaganntha at the Ratha-ytr festival in Pur, He is in the mood of Rdhik meeting Ka at Kuruketra.] The aa-klya-ll of r Caitanya Mahprabhu only takes place in Navadvpa. Navadvpa is Vndvana, Jaganntha Pur is like Dvrak, and Godvar is like Kuruketra.4 Devotee: Wasnt there rsa-ll in rvsa-agana? Brajanth dsa: There is krtana-rasa in rvsa-agana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It was not rsa [with a long a, which refers to Kas dancing with the gops]. Ka performed the rsa dance with the gops. Can Mahprabhu perform such rsa dance with His friends? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He performs sakrtana-rasa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is sakrtana-rasa [with a short a, meaning mellows], not rsa [with a long a, meaning Kas dance with the gops]. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, some people say that the pjrs (priests) in Jaganntha Pur sometimes dress Lord Jaganntha like ymasundara. They put a ptmbara (yellow shawl) on Him and give Him a flute. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When has He taken His flute there? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Sometimes they decorate Him like that.
158
San Francisco
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Sometimes indicates momentary.5 Giridhr dsa: Lord Jaganntha listens to Gta-govinda by the poet Jayadeva Gosvm, and to the songs of the poet Cadsa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not to Cadsa; only to Gtagovinda. This is because Jayadeva Gosvm lived for some time in Pur. Gokula dsa: But Gurudeva, when my Guru Mahrja or any Vaiava goes to Jaganntha Pur, they always see Vndvana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who? Gokula dsa: You. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Only Caitanya Mahprabhu sees Vndvana in Pur. Gokula dsa: Wasnt rla Gour Govinda Mahrja always seeing Vndvana there? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When Mahprabhu used to go to the shore of the ocean, to the garden of Lord Jaganntha, or to the temple of o-gopntha, He used to see Govardhana and Yamun. Can you truly see this? We cannot. Brajanth dsa: Gokula is saying that his Guru Mahrja, rla Gour Govinda Mahrja, used to see Vndvana when he was in Jaganntha Pur. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. You can also see Vndvana in this forest-garden here in San Francisco. Yamun is also here; you can see it if you have got the eyes to do so. It is stated in rla Bhaktivinoda hkuras Kalya-kalpataru, Yathya vaiava-gaa, sei sthna vndvana Wherever there are devotees, that place is actually Vndvana. This is a special thing. Gokula dsa: Yes. Vaiavas say, I am always seeing Vndvana. They are always in the mood of Vraja. So when some persons hear that, they conclude that Pur is Vndvana.
5 Here it means that once a year, during r Janmam (r Kas appearance day), the pjrs dress Lord Jaganntha as r ymasundara. (rpda Mdhava Mahrja)
159
Brajanth dsa: We also say something like this. When we are in Badger, New Vraja, we say, This is like Vndvana. Gokula dsa: Oh, so those persons have misunderstood, and that is why they came to the conclusion that Pur is Vndvana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If someone is seeing Vndvana in Pur, and someone else is in Vndvana, in Rdh-kua, are both places equal? Gokula dsa: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Has your Gurudeva said this? Gokula dsa: No. He said that it is like Vndvana. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: When Mahprabhu went to Jaganntha Pur and saw Lord Jaganntha, He saw only Jaganntha, and He saw Him as Vrajendra-nandana ymasundara, not as Jaganntha. When He would sometimes see Lord Baladeva and Subhadr as well, He would say, Oh, why have I come to Kuruketra? At that time He would greatly lament. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Why did Mahprabhu travel from Pur to Vndvana? If Jaganntha Pur and Vndvana are the same, He could have stayed in Jaganntha Pur. But He went to Vndvana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, why did He personally go from Pur to Vndvana? Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, when we are on Navadvpa parikram, you say things like, We are in Govardhana, or, Here is Rdhkua. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Is Rdh-kua in Pur? Are the twelve forests of Vndvana, and Nandagaon, in Pur? They are in Navadvpa. Giridhr dsa: Bhad-bhgavatmta describes that nitya Jaganntha Pur is located below Vndvana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Oriyan devotees favor Pur, accepting it as Vndvana. Yathya vaiava-gaa, sei stna vndvana. It was in this way that r Caitanya Mahprabhu used to see the Deity o-gopntha and say, Here is Gopntha, so Caaka Parvata is Govardhana.
160
San Francisco
Gokula dsa: When we were with you in Pur in 2001, we were showing you a book of my guru mahrja. We were trying to prove to you that he said that Pur is Vndvana. But then, when you looked at the book you pointed out to us, Look, he says that Pur is like Vndvana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: On the other hand, Navadvpa is not like Vndvana; it is Vndvana. That is the difference. Devotee: What does the Gambhr represent? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is like Nandagaon. After Kas departure to Mathur, rmat Rdhik wept and lamented in Nandagaon, in Uddhava-kyr, Oh, where? Where is Ka? Where is Ka? Vikh-kua is also there in Nandagaon, and Bhramara-gta was spoken there. The topmost separation mood is experienced there. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: The Gambhr is not Nandagaon, but when Mahprabhu was in the Gambhr, He was in the mood of Rdhik in Nandagaon.
June 16, 2007

Hare Ka dsa: Gurudeva, Ive brought my father, Raga Pur. Hes from Bolivia. Rohi-nandana dsa: Raga Pur is currently the Ambassador of Bolivia in Washington D.C. Hare Ka dsa: He has been working for a long time on a Spanish translation of Ramyna. He would like your blessings to publish it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is very good that he has completed it. I will be happy if you publish it. Which edition have you translated? Vlmkis version? Raga Pur dsa: We have translated Vlmki Ramyna, but we are also including some insights from Rma-carita-mnasa.
161
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you are doing a translation, then only one book should be translated. Dont mix two different books. Vlmkis Ramyna, written in Sanskrit, is the authentic Ramyna [written millions of years ago]. Tulas dsas Rma-caritamnasa is in Hindi [written by him a few hundred years ago]. It was taken from Vlmkis Ramyna, as well as from the versions and commentaries of others, and it is very easy to understand. You are an Ambassador? Very good. That is a high post. I am not able to touch such a high post. From whom have you taken initiation? Raga Pur dsa: From rla Bhakti Pramoda Pur Gosvm Mahrja. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. Hare Ka dsa: rla Gurudeva, I want your blessings, because many devotees from Bolivia want to go to India for Krtika. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They should come. Hare Ka dsa: But it is very expensive for them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Bolivia is not a poor country. Hare Ka dsa: It is very poor, and very corrupt. The people there earn $60 for one months work. I am coming for Krtika. But I want to bring more people, so I want your blessings to go there to help them collect their fare. rpda Nemi Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, two or three days ago you were speaking about our remembering of pastimes while doing japa. You said that general devotees can remember the pastime-places of our Vraja-maala parikram. You said that those who are more advanced can remember the particular pastimes of Ka that are in accord with His particular names, those on the next level of advancement can remember aa-klya-ll, and those who are still more advanced can meditate on something still higher. How can devotees recognize their own qualification? How will they know what to remember? What are the indications? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There is a barometer: kntir avyartha-klatva viraktir mna-nyat -bandha samutkah nma-gne sad ruci saktis tad-gukhyne prtis tad-vasati-sthale ity dayo nubhv syur jta-bhvkure jane Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu (1.3.2526) 162
San Francisco
[(1) knti forgiveness, forbearance or tolerance, (2) avyartha-klatva not wasting time, (3) virakti detachment from worldly enjoyment, (4) mna-nyat absence of pride, (5) -bandha steadfast hope [that Ka will bestow His mercy], (6) samutkah intense eagerness [to obtain ones goal], (7) nma-gne sad ruci a taste for always chanting the holy names, (8) tad-guakhyne sakti attachment to hari-kath, (9) tad-vasatisthale prti affection for the transcendental pastime places of the Lord. These nine ecstatic moods, or anubhvas, develop within a person in whom the symptoms of bhva have begun to sprout.]
When the seed of bhva-bhakti (the initial stage of perfection in devotion) sprouts in ones heart, one will be able to meditate upon aa-klya-ll; not before that. As long as devotees maintain any kind of worldly attachment or desire, and as long as they maintain the conception that they are this material body, they are not qualified to meditate upon aa-klya-ll. Thank you all. rpda Nemi Mahrja: I would like to speak with you for three or four minutes; sometime when it is convenient. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Alone? rpda Nemi Mahrja: With just a few devotees. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can come anytime. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Do you have some problem with your eye, rla Gurudeva? I saw something in it yesterday, and now it is watery. Any difficulty? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have difficulty with my ears. I cannot hear ninety-five percent of what is being said. I think that God is very merciful. He has arranged for me not to hear anything unnecessary. I am happy about that. I am not unhappy. rpda Nemi Mahrja: We are not happy, though, because we cannot speak to you so easily. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When others talk among them selves in my presence, I am not hearing them. I am only chanting. When I travel by car, the devotees in the car are always talking; but I dont know what they are saying. I am simply chanting Hare Ka. 163
Tulasik ds: Your Russian daughters, Lalit-kior, Annapr, and Devak, are sending you their humble daavat prama (prostrated obeisances) and asking for your blessings. Indulekh is also asking for blessings to be strong. She is having some problems with her family. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Tell them that I am giving them my blessings.
June 17, 2007

Morning Walk
Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, do you remember rla prabhu? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh! rla dsa: I am trying to hide, actually. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He is not fully obeying me. I told him that he is very qualified; he is a learned person. I thought that he would take sannysa and preach everywhere, at which time everyone would follow him. He also does not want to marry, so everything is favorable for him. I dont know what he is afraid of, or why he hesitates. There is some lack in him. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is the vartma-pradaraka guru6 of Brajanth prabhu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Of so many. rla dsa: I want to make a confession. First of all, your laser-like instructions to me, your kind responses to my inquiries, your harikath, and your association are the most valuable and precious moments of my life. I want to express that to you, and to thank you. I am feeling shame, embarrassment, and pain because of my inability to follow your instruction. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to obey Vaiavas. You cannot be happy doing what you think is best for you. It is best to follow what Vaiavas tell you regarding the aim and object of life,
6The vartma-pradaraka guru is the person who introduces one to Ka
consciousness, or who introduces one to the pure devotee.
164
San Francisco
and to follow the behavior and philosophical conceptions of your Gurudeva. If you want to be a ghastha, you can marry. But if not, then preach very strongly, everywhere, as we are preaching, rpda Dmodara Mahrja: He could give up his house. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. He can sell it and remit the money to the bank. Brajanth dsa: But Gurudeva, he has collected so many things. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I know that. But what is the use? rla dsa: They are a burden. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Preaching is part of the bhaktiyoga practice. He should preach, and donate his house to me. Brajanth dsa: But he has only debts, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Did you come yesterday? rla dsa: I come every day. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: On the first day as well? rpda raut Mahrja: He sits in the last row. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Last row. He does not come in front of me because he knows I will tell him to leave his home and preach; so he fears. rmad-Bhgavatam tells us that if one is hearing hari-kath from a bona fide guru and Vaiava, all types of tattva-jna very soon manifest in his heart. He will realize all spiritual truths and at once become detached from worldly entanglement. If rla is hearing continuously without experiencing the fruit of realization and detachment, then there is some defect in his hearing and associating. He will do well to consider, I am wasting my life. If I dont take advantage of the opportunity offered by this human life, I will again have to transmigrate throughout the cycle of endless material life and death. rmad-Bhgavatam (11.9.29) states: labdhv su-durlabham ida bahu-sambhavnte mnuyam artha-dam anityam apha dhra tra yateta na pated anu-mtyu yvan nireyasya viaya khalu sarvata syt
165
[This human birth is very rare, because it is only attained after many lifetimes. Although temporary, it can give the highest benefit [the service of rmat Rdhik]. After all, sense gratification is available in all species [whereas spiritual perfection is possible only for human beings]. Therefore, an intelligent person should immediately, without wasting a single moment, begin to endeavor [with one-pointed dedication] to achieve the ultimate good fortune, before death comes.]
[To rla dsa] You know this verse, perhaps? rla dsa: I think of that verse every day, but I do not follow it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can pray to Ka that He may kindly give you the strength to follow. Did you hear the class yesterday? Devotee: Yes, Mahrja. I was drowning in an ocean of nectar. Thank you very much. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yesterday in the class, Gurudeva was describing that Nrada came to Kasa, advised him, and then went away singing, rmn Nryaa Nryaa, Nryaa. Everyone in the class was so pleased to hear Gurudeva singing this mantra. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When Nrada i goes to Vaikuha-loka, he sings, Nryaa, Nryaa, and when he goes to Goloka Vndvana, he sings, Rdhik-Ramaa. Nrada muni bjya v rdhik-ramaa nme. Ka personally gave him his v7, and that v is svara-brahma (charged with transcendental sound). Do you know the meaning of svara-brahma? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It has the same meaning as abdabrahma (spiritual sound). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He received svara-brahma from the gops, and akara (Lord iva) did as well. Innumerable tunes come from the gops ankle bells, and later akara learned those tunes from them. Yesterday I explained about Vabhnu-nandin Rdh, Viyogin Rdh, and Sayogn Rdh.8 From where did I receive this knowledge? Is it documented anywhere? Is there any evidence of this reality?
7A v is a large Indian string instrument, similar to the lute. 8 See Endnote 5, at the end of this chapter.
166
San Francisco
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Where? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It is described in the Sanat-kumra-sahit. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura has written about this in his commentary, wherein he quoted that sahit. Whatever we tell must be authentic. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Mahprabhu told Santana Gosvm, Sarvatra prama dibe pura-vacana Whatever we quote must be certified by scripture (r Caitanya-caritmta, Madhya-ll 24.343). Someone said that after killing akhaca, Ka gave the Syamantaka jewel to Baladeva, and Baladeva gave it directly to Rdhik. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: He didnt give it to Rdhik. He gave it to Dhanih. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He gave it to Dhanih, Dhanih gave it to Lalit, and Lalit gave it Rdhik. Why? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: Balarma cannot come before Rdhik. He is the elder brother of Ka. He would never come before Her. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It would be rasbhsa (an unpalatable mixing of rasas). In Indian Vedic culture, this would not happen, but nowadays Vedic culture is not followed. Where there is an influence of Western culture, Indian boys and girls sit together, and eat and joke together, whereas in Indian villages even today, Vedic culture is adhered to. A lady does not speak or come before her vaura. Do you know the meaning of the word vaura? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: Elder brother? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vaura. Sura means devat (demigod). The elder brother is regarded like a devat. Do you know the meaning of svaura? There is no word for it in English, but in general it means father-in-law. The father-in-law is also considered like a demigod. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: She does not come before him either? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A woman will not come in front of her husbands father. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: She wears a veil. 167
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: I know it is the etiquette, but I do not know the reason behind it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If the vaura or vaura sees her, he may be attracted by her beauty and lust may come from that attraction. All these traditions are very highly acclaimed in India. I have seen that a father never places his young son on his lap. The fathers brother, uncle, and father do it, as he lives in a joint family. The father does not show so much affection externally, but he supports and nourishes his son. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Why is that? Why would he do that? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is the tradition in a big family. When a family is small, with only the father and mother and no other elders, the father may place his son on his lap. The danger is that if he outwardly shows affection and places his son on his lap, the son may become very naughty. He may not follow the orders of his father. Any questions? ivnanda Sena dsa: rla Gurudeva, I give so much affection to my son. Hes here. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In that case, because you are so attached, you will have to take birth as his son in your next life. You will become his son. ivnanda Sena dsa: He is actually your son. I am only the caretaker. He knows this well. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Dont be attached to anyone, whether that person is your wife, your children, or anyone else. Do your duty, but with the understanding that your family members are all Kas servants and maidservants. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Jva dsa [now Viu Mahrja] is asking whether or not Ka sits on His father Nanda Bbs lap. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have not seen in rmadBhgavatam or any other scripture that Nanda Bb places Ka on his lap. When Mother Yaod bound Him and the yamala-arjuna
168
San Francisco
trees fell down, and when Ka was bitterly weeping, only then did Nanda Bb come and place Ka on his lap. In that special case he even carried Him on his shoulders. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: On another occasion you told us that fathers have great affection for their daughters, and mothers have great affection for their sons. But the instance of Lord Rmacandras father, Dsaratha Mahrja, was different. He had so much love for Rma that he never wanted to be separated from Him. It is shown in the Ramyna that Kaualya and Kaikey had deep affection for Lord Rma, but Daaratha Mahrja had so much love for Him that he even gave up his life in separation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It may be that there are some special cases. Do you know the meaning of apadharma? Acyutnandana dsa: It means exception. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In bhakti we should not have any worldly desire. Still, Draupad called out, O Ka, I have given myself to You. Everything is in Your hands. She closed her eyes, let her veil fall from her mouth, and cried out, O Govinda rakho sarana, ab to jvana hari I have given my whole life to You. You can save me or not save me, as You desire. I am no longer worried. This is anybhilit9. By nature one may have no personal desire or need. Apadharma (extraordinary circumstances, such as when ones life is in danger) is applied when a thief or a tiger comes. At that time what would you do? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: I will call out, Alas, Bhagavn. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Save me! This is not against dharma. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: You are the ik-guru of many disciples. Do you love them more than your own disciples? You do not take your own disciples onto your lap, but you do so for others. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In truth, I have so much affection for the disciples of my ik-guru, parama-pjyapda r rmad Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, because he requested me to take care of them. The ik-disciple and his ik-guru have a special
169
relationship. They can open their hearts to each other, whereas a disciple cannot always openly reveal his heart to his dk-gurudeva. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: But you have also said that you have such a deep relationship with your gurudeva that you open your heart and reveal everything. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Sometimes this is very hard; but you can reveal everything to your ik-guru, because he is both your guru and your friend. Regarding your dk-gurudeva, he is not like a friend; he is your controller. Giridhr dsa: rla Guru Mahrja, when Parama-gurudeva first came to rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvati hkura, was Prabhupda a brahmacr? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, at first. But by the time of their second meeting, one year later, Prabhupda had taken sannysa. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: Devotees in different countries around the world want preaching centers. They can establish temples, but they need managers. They want brahmacrs and qualified devotees to come and help them preach and manage programs for you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If that is so, then our sannyss should bring more and more brahmacrs by their preaching. rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja and his disciples used to create many brahmacrs. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: rla prabhu can manage a center. He is qualified. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I cannot believe him. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: In Mauritius, a devotee is building a big temple with a nice hkuraj, and he wants brahmacrs to be there. Also, in Durban and Johannesburg. In South America, Sao Paulo needs devotees, and so does Venezuela and Costa Rica. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By preaching, it may be that brahmacrs will come. The devotees in Houston are creating a very big center, and many brahmacrs and sannyss will be there. All the Indians there are helping so much. Rdh-knta dsa: At the time of rla A. C. Bhaktivednta Svm Prabhupda, everyone managed ghasthas, new devotees, brahmacrs. 170
San Francisco
Anyone who was available somehow managed. There is no problem if the desire is there. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Even ghasthas did so. We will have to follow this principle. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Its very hard to make brahmacrs. Everybody wants to do business. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A ghastha or a vnaprastha can manage very easily. Some brahmacrs also manage. In India we see that our brahmacrs are managing. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are you married now? Rohini-nandana dsa: Not yet. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What do you want? Like them, you can also come forward. Raghuntha dsa Gosvm was married, and he left everything. I was also married, and I left everything. When rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja was married, his wife kicked him out, because he was doing nothing worthwhile from her point of view. Ladies: [having waited for his return, are now singing] Happy Fathers Day to you. Happy Fathers Day to you. Happy Fathers Day dear Gurudeva, Happy Fathers Day to you.
June 17, 2007

[During his Bhakti-yoga festival in San Francisco, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn, which is about a forty-five minute drive from the festival site at the Asian Cultural Center. Every morning he walked from 5:30 to 6:30 am., and upon his return, his lady disciples would be waiting for him. All the devotees would then enter his room and, before his taking breakfast, he would sit for about twenty minutes and grant them his darana. As he was returning from his walk on June 17th, Fathers Day, about fifteen of his daughters were waiting for him with flowers and gifts in honor of the special holiday.] 171
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Is today Fathers Day for females only, or also for males? Devotees: For males also. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Then why are the males not giving me any gifts? I have more affection for my daughters. None of the men told me it is Fathers Day. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, you said on the morning walk that even though the father has so much affection for his son, he may not show it directly. He may not take the son on his lap. We know you love your sons best; therefore you are not showing it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have more affection for my daughters. My blessings to you all today is that pure bhakti will come in your hearts. The greed to serve in rgnuga-bhakti will come. My blessings are that you will attain your highest goal. What is your highest goal? Caru-candrik ds: Majar-bhva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Rdh-dsyam(personal service to rmat Rdhik). In the West, after the sons marriage, the fathers and sons separate from each other. The sons do no service at all for their fathers. But in India, even when their mothers and fathers are very old, the children serve. Nowadays, a wind has come from the Western countries to India, and old persons are suffering. They are not allowed to live with their families. In villages, though, they are still taken care of by their children. I want you all to follow varrama-dharma, of which this is an example. Gokula dsa: If we are in family life, we should take care of our mother and father? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, and have good relations with your brothers. Lord Rma wanted to give His kingdom to Bharata, and Bharata wanted to give the kingdom to Rma. They were quarreling about this point. Nowadays, it is the opposite; we quarrel for our own ownership. We should be like Rma and Bharata. r Caitanya Mahprabhu told us to be like trees. A tree gives its leaves, fruits, branches, flowers, juice, fruits, shade, and wood to others. We should try to live not for ourselves, but for others. 172
San Francisco
rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja left everything in his old age and traveled the entire world to benefit others. I also only travel to help and bring the highest benefit to all, and to follow our guruparampar. [Mahprabhu dsa from Australia tells rla Mahrja that his thirteen-year-old daughter, Tulas ds, was there to see him.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She came to hear hari-kath? Mahprabhu dsa: Yes. She took initiation from you a few years ago, and now she wants second initiation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Tulas ds] How many rounds do you chant? Tulas ds: I am building up. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: How many rounds are you chanting? Tulas ds: Two rounds. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good, but no dk now. When you realize the glories of the holy name that the holy name can save you from the pain of endless birth and death then you will chant more. Money and worldly things cannot make you happy. These holy names will give you ka-prema, and you will be able to serve Rdh and Ka forever. When you realize this, then you will chant more. Then, when I come to Australia, you can receive the dk-mantras. [Later] ymar ds: In this mornings darana you said we should follow varrama-dharma. You said we should serve our mother and father and brothers. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not only on Fathers Day, but every day. ymar ds: What if we have a non-devotee mother, father, and brother? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Those who are ghastha (house holders) should do so, and those who are renounced, having given up the world, should serve their holy master. ymar ds: A householder should serve even their non-devotee mother and father? 173
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, they should serve their mother, father, and brothers whether their parents are devotees or non-devotees otherwise they will have to go to hell. Everyone who is not a pure devotee has debts to others in this world. When my father used to come to Mathur, I would take his foot-dust on my head. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: His father was a devotee. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Even though I am a sannys and he was a ghastha, I did so. He was my first guru. He taught me Mahbhrata, Ramyna, and other scriptures. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Devotees serve their parents to inspire them to become devotees. The parents receive good impressions by remembering how their devotee children always give respect to them, and bring them prasdam, and the good news about what is best for their eternal welfare.
June 18, 2007

Morning Walk
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why are you smiling? rpda Trida Mahrja: Because it is so wonderful to be with you, rla Gurudeva. rpda Nemi Mahrja: You are telling us all of the beautiful things that our Guru Mahrja [rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja] wanted to tell us. We were like babies when he was physically present, so we could not fully understand him at that time. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are you understanding him now? rpda Nemi Mahrja: A little, something, and I think he is happy about that. He wanted to tell us then, but we wouldnt have been able to understand. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Was my explanation interesting? Devotee: That is an understatement. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What did I clarify regarding Nanda Bb and Ka? Did Nanda Bb go back to Vndvana 174
San Francisco
from Mathur with, or without, Ka? You dont know? I explained it during my class. rpda Nemi Mahrja: There are two prakohas (sections within the pastimes). In one prakoha, Nanda Bb goes back to Vndvana without Ka and Balarma, with only Kas golden ornaments and some clothes, crying and crying. In another prakoha, he is happy to go back there with Ka and Baladeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But this is hidden. This siddhnta, as explained by rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura, is very exalted. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Does Baladeva Prabhu know, or not? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, He knows. In one prakoha both Ka and Baladeva go back to Vndvana with Nanda Bb. rpda Nemi Mahrja: When Baladeva came back from Dvrak to Vndvana, He was seeing only the prakoha in which the Vrajavss were feeling separation from Ka. He didnt see the other prakoha. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In Vraja, absorbed in thinking of Ka, He Himself became black like Ka. His Deity is black in Dauj and in Madhuvana, because He is always feeling the Vrajavss separation mood for Ka. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, Baladevas mood in rsa-ll is not completely raya-jtya-tattva (the mood of Kas servant), is it? He is viu-tattva, so He is viaya, the Supreme Lord and enjoyer. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There are two kinds of rsa. During the Holi rsa, Ka and Baladeva sang with many melodies of beautifully ascending (roha) and descending (avaroha) notes, and all of the gops were present there. In fact, at the time of Holi all the gopas and gops were able to assemble together. When Baladeva went to Rma-gha from Dvrak, He per formed rsa with His own gops.10 rpda Dmodara Mahrja: What is Baladevas mood? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He performed rsa to satisfy the gops, because they were greatly lamenting and suffering in
175
separation from Ka. Baladeva wanted to relieve their separation mood, and therefore He danced and sang with them. His dancing was not like the dancing of Ka with the gops, wherein Ka held hands with them and engaged in amorous sports. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: But like Ka, Baladeva is also viutattva. What would be the fault in His dancing with the gops as Ka did? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Nsihadeva is viu-tattva, but He cannot do as Ka did. Even Rmacandra, who is superior to Lord Nsihadeva, cannot perform such pastimes. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Only Ka can do rsa. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: When Baladeva danced with His own gops at Rma-gha, were Kas gops also present and watching? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Actually, the idea of Baladeva dancing with His own gops has been told for ignorant persons. In Heaven, the damsel Urva goes to so many men, and there is no fault either on her part or on the part of the men. There is no fault, because their heavenly bodies are not like ours. If there is no fault in Heaven, then what to speak of the transcendental world, where Rdh, the gops, and Baladeva Prabhu pro priety have fully transcendental bodies. There is no impurity or im in the transcendental world. It has been told only for ignorant persons that Baladeva Prabhu was with His own gops. He was actually with Kas gops, but there was no fault in this. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Who is giving this explanation, rla Gurudeva? I could not find in the commentary of rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura that Baladeva is dancing with His gops as well as r Kas gops. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Have you read it? rpda Nemi Mahrja: No, I have not read it. I was looking in Srrtha-darin (rla Vivantha Cakravart hkuras commentary on rmad-Bhgavatam, Tenth Canto), but I could not find it there. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I am explaining this to you from my vision, and from the rmad-Bhgavatam commentary of rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura. rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura has also explained this [in his commentary on r Caitanya-Bhgavata]. 176
San Francisco
rpda Dmodara Mahrja: So Baladeva Prabhu does not have viaya-bhva (the mood of the supreme transcendental enjoyer)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, not at all. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Then how is He viu-tattva? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Other than Ka, no one can perform rsa (as Ka does); not Baladeva or anyone else. Baladeva danced with the gops in order to please and pacify them. There is no trace of indecorum in Baladeva Prabhu dancing with them. He did not touch the bodies of the gops as Ka did. Ka expanded into innumerable forms as He danced and sang with all the gops. He embraced them, whereas Baladeva had no intimate contact. [To Indupati dsa] Are you hearing hari-kath? Indupati dsa: rla Gurudeva, I am trying to hear, but my heart is like a stone. There is not much going in. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have come to melt all hearts. [To another devotee] Do you remember what I, and others, have been speaking? Will you remember all these topics in the future? Devotee: By your blessings, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are you understanding the topics we discussed? Devotee: Something, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Something is better than nothing. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: In the Caitanya-caritmta, it is said that Rdhr is the storehouse of Kas qualities. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is your question? rpda Dmodara Mahrja: I do not understand this. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Rdhik is raya (the complete reservoir of love for Ka), not viaya (Ka, the object of love). All qualities reside in that raya. Without Rdhik, Ka is nirviea, devoid of qualities; without Rdhik, His qualities cannot manifest. With Rdhik, Ka is dhra-lalita (the transcendental hero, who is subjugated by His beloveds) and nava-kiora-naavara (the eternally youthful dancer), and He has all the other qualities of the transcendental reservoir of all pleasure. Without Her, He is nirviea-brahma, zero. 177
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: If Rdhik is there, then Ka is a hero; otherwise He is zero. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Without Rdhik, Kas qualities do not manifest; that is why the statement is made that She is the reservoir of all His qualities. There can be no rsa without Rdhik. Ka performs rsa-ll for Her pleasure. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: In yesterdays class we were explaining that when Ka entered Kasas arena, all the people saw Him differently. rmad-Bhgavatam states that some ignorant persons saw His vir, or universal form. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Vir avidum. [The meaning is that the ignorant persons (avidum) present in Kasas arena saw Ka as vir, meaning a very great personality. Only in connection with vir-rpa does vir refer to Kas universal form.] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In that connection, vir does not refer to viva-rpa, or Kas universal form. They saw Him as vir. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: What is the difference between vir and viva-rpa? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vir means very great personality. Those ignorant persons were not eligible to see viva-rpa. Even Arjuna saw the universal form only by the power and mercy of Ka. How, then, can ignorant persons see that form? That would be an absurd consideration. Somehow they thought, Oh, vir. They saw that Ka was a great personality. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: After Ka killed the elephant Kuvalaypa, everyone thought, Oh, He is not ordinary. They thought Him to be a great person. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, on the parikram path in Vndvana, there is a mandira (temple) with a golden Baladeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When Baladeva was with Ka in Vraja, He was golden. However, when Ka was in Dvrak and Baladeva was in Vraja, then He became black. Golden color in this connection means like Baladevas own color. He was not black; He was fair complexioned. rpda Nemi Mahrja: That golden Dauj was Baladeva Himself in His own svarpa (natural form)? 178
San Francisco
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. rpda Nemi Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, you are giving tridaisannysa [tri means three]. But our daa (staff, carried by sannyss) contains four sticks, plus this small one. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There are four sticks, but still it is called tridaa; no harm. Within the three, four are present. rpda Nemi Mahrja: But we have five, because of the small stick that is tied at the top. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That small stick on the daa is the jva. Nryaa is the entire daa, and the small stick is the jva, who combines with the entire daa by service (performed by the three: body, mind, and words). Do you understand? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: So the fourth daa is Nryaa? Devotees: No. The whole daa is Nryaa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: One whole daa is called Nryaa. The jvas are serving Nryaa there.11 Although it is called three (tri-daa), one more is there, and a similar example is in the word Veda-tray (literally meaning three Vedas). Veda-tray actually refers to all the four Vedas. The Eleventh Canto of rmad-Bhgavatam describes how this creation was engineered, and there it explains that there are twentyeight elements. What are these elements? rpda Nemi Mahrja: There are five gross elements, five subtle elements, five working senses, and five knowledge-acquiring senses. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is twenty. Then there are mind, intelligence, ego, citta (consciousness), prakti (nature), purua (the Enjoyer, the Lord who glances over the material nature), atma (the living being), and Paramtma (the Supersoul). This makes twenty-eight. Some persons say that there are twenty elements, some say there are sixteen, others say there are seven, and some say there are six. Arjuna asked Ka, Why do different spiritual authorities seem to contradict each other? Ka replied, All that the is (great sages) have said is true. When they say that there are six, all twentyeight reside in these six, and when they say sixteen, twenty-eight are present in those sixteen.
179
If someone says, Nryaa Mahrja is coming to Badger, does that mean that I am coming alone? No. You are all accompanying me. I cannot go alone. Devotee: rla Gurudeva, what type of classes will you give in Badger? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why have you kept your hair? If you shave today, then you can come to Badger. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is asking what you will speak about when you come to Badger? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will speak on whatever I think is best. rpda Nemi Mahrja: I am not going to worry about preaching to the scientists anymore. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, dont be worried. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Whatever scientific knowledge I already have, I can use that in my general preaching. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, that is enough. If an appropriate occasion arises, you can speak about science and scientists not like those preachers who are almost always speaking, Scientists, scientists, scientists, and neglect the topics we discuss in our classes. Others cannot speak on the topics we discuss, and even most of our Gauya Maha devotees do not discuss them.
ENDNOTES
Brahmacr, the Homonym by ymar ds, based on rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrjas books, conversations, and lectures: From the beginning of the International Society for Ka Consciousness in the West in the 1960s and 1970s, there was no real brahmacr rama in the strict sense of the term. rla Prabhupda [Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja] had to gradually bring a very fallen material society to the point where the people in general could follow varrama-dharma. He performed the miraculous feat of single-handedly introducing varrama-dharma in the West. He gave saffron cloth to a man or boy from that persons very first day in the temple. He wanted to encourage and strengthen the 180
1
San Francisco
newcomers in Vedic living, and he wanted to give society at large some semblance of a practical conception of varrama (wherein young boys from all walks of life would live for some years in the rama of the guru, be trained in brahmacr life, and then when they became of marriageable age, decide whether they would remain brahmacr or become householders). Most of rla Prabhupdas male and female followers had previously been living together outside of marriage, or had had many lovers in immorality. He wanted to bring them to a civilized life of marriage, and to help them to become Ka conscious in their married rama, and therefore he introduced the system of initial brahmacr training. The standard of the brahmacr in ISKCON was different from the traditional Gauya Maha standards, wherein one wears white cloth until one desires to become a committed or permanent resident of the maha (temple). Only after some years is he given saffron cloth, when the spiritual master sees that he understands the real meaning of bhakti and detachment from the world is manifesting in his heart. Receiving saffron cloth, he takes a vow never to marry, and to remain celibate. This is the standard of brahmacr that rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja is referring to, and rla Prabhupda would also never approve of such a brahmacr marrying.
2
pryelpyua sabhya kalv asmin yuge jan mand sumanda-matayo manda-bhgy hy upadrut rmad-Bhgavatam (1.1.10)
O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.*
kaler doa-nidhe rjann asti hy eko mahn gua krtand eva kasya mukta-saga para vrajet rmad-Bhgavatam (12.3.51)
181
My dear King, this age of Kali is a veritable ocean of faults. Still, it has one most exalted attribute: one who simply performs krtana of r Kas names, form, qualities, and pastimes, especially by chanting the Hare Ka mah-mantra, can certainly become liberated from material bondage and receive entrance to the highest destination the transcendental realm of Vraja.
kte yad dhyyato viu trety yajato makhai dvpare paricaryy kalau tad dhari-krtant rmad-Bhgavatam (12.3.52)
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viu, in Tret-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvpara-yuga by serving the Lords lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Ka mah-mantra.*
3 An excerpt from rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Holland, June 29, 2002:
After speaking in this way, Caitanya Mahprabhu revealed Himself as Rasarja Mahbhva, and seeing this form, Rya Rmnanda fainted and began to roll on the earth. What was so special about this form? Rmnanda Rya had personally seen both Rdhik and Ka in Kas pastimes, (because he is Vikh Sakh in those pastimes), but now, in this form, he saw that each and every limb of Rdhik was covered by each limb of Ka, and the body of Ka was covered with the golden complexion of rmat Rdhik. And still, even though He was covered by that golden complexion, some black luster from His body was showing through. Rya Rmnanda had never before seen this form. This means that Caitanya Mahprabhu is Rdhik covered by all the limbs of Ka, who is covered by the complexion of Rdhik. Kas beauty is nlamai-knti, which means it has the beauty and luster of a sapphire pearl. This beautiful luster was covered with a golden luster, and the combined beauty of the two is rasarja-mahbhva. Ka is Rasarja and Rdhik is Mahbhva. Here, Rasarja and Mahbhva are combined, and Rya Rmnanda fainted when he saw that form. 182
San Francisco
4
An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas book, The Origin of Ratha-ytr:
You should know that there are no Vndvana forests in Jaganntha Pur. Therefore, Jaganntha Pur can never be equal to Navadvpa. A very high class of separation is tasted by Mahprabhu in the Gambhr, but at the same time Navadvpa is Vndvana and Pur is not. Pur is like Dvrak. In Dvrak, Ka laments for the gops. He cannot wear His peacock feather or carry His sweet va, and He cannot declare, My father and mother are Nanda and Yaod. These are not My real queens. The gops are My most beloved. Do you know the meaning of the word Navadvpa? Nava refers to nitya-nava-navyamna, and it means always ever-fresh. Nava also means nine. Navadvpa consists of nine islands, and they denote the nine processes of bhakti. The Vedas, Upaniads, and so many other Vaiava literatures have referred to this Navadvpa in the following way: riya knt knta parama-purua kalpa-taravo drum bhmi cintmai-gaa-mayi toyam amtam kath gna nya gamanam api va priya-sakh cid-nanda jyoti param api tad svdyam api ca sa yatra krbdhi sravati surabhbhya ca su-mahn nimerddhkhyo v vrajati na hi yatrpi samy bhaje vetadvpa tam aham iha golokam iti ya vidantas te santa kiti-virala-cr katipaye Brahma-sahit (5.56)
I worship that supreme abode of vetadvpa, where the beloved heroines are a host of transcendental goddesses of fortune, and the Supreme Personality r Ka is the only lover; where all the trees are spiritual desire-trees, and the earth is made of transcendental wish-fulfilling cintmai jewels; where the water is nectar, natural speaking is a melodious song, and walking to and fro is an artful dance; where the flute is the dearmost friend; where light is full of knowledge and bliss, and the supreme spiritual substance that comprises all things is relishable; where a vast transcendental ocean of milk is always flowing from millions upon millions of surabh cows; and where time is not subject to passing away, even for half the blink of an eye, because it is not divided into past
183
and future, but remains in the undivided eternal present. That divine abode, which is practically unknown in this world, is known by the name of Goloka to only a few, rare sdhus.
rla Rpa Gosvm has quoted this verse, and rla Bhaktivinoda hkura has also quoted this, along with many such verses. Navadvpa is vetadvpa. In transcendental Goloka Vndvana there are two parts: Vndvana and vetadvpa. Vndvana and Navadvpa are complementary. Without Navadvpa, Vndvana is incomplete, and without Vndvana, Navadvpa is incomplete. Together they are complete, just as when separation and meeting mix together, the resulting situation creates a sense of completeness. Where there is no separation mood, that sayoga (meeting) is incomplete. The twelve vanas (forests) and upavanas (gardens, parks, and small forests) of Vndvana are in Navadvpa, within the nine islands: Madhuvana, Tlavana, Kumudavana, Bahulvana, Kmyavana, Khadiravana, Bhadravana, Bhravana, Bilvavana, Mahvana, Vndvana, and Lauhavana. All of these forests, in some way, are in Navadvpa. Dont think that Jaganntha Pur is superior to Navadvpa. Dont think that Godvar, where Mahprabhu revealed His mahbhvarasarja mood, is superior to Navadvpa. Navadvpa is far superior to both these places. On one hand, r Caitanya Mahprabhu revealed His transcendental form of rasarja-mahbhva at Godvar, and that most high class of hari-kath, Rya-rmnanda-savda, took place there. Also, Caitanya Mahprabhu showed His extreme moods of separation in Gambhr. He jumped in the ocean, and He relished rmat Rdhiks moods of separation with Svarpa Dmodara and Rya Rmnanda there. These may be said, therefore, to be the deepest hari-kaths, but there are so many reasons why they are not. Jaganntha Pur is certainly a very elevated pastime place, especially regarding the gambhr-ll of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, but still it is like Dvrak. There is no forest or sub-forest of Vndvana there. Gokula, Bhravana, Nandagaon, and Var are present there. They are not present on Godvar-taa, neither are they in Kuruketra or Jaganntha Pur. Therefore, Navadvpa must be superior to these places. Because so many places are there in Navadvpa in a hidden way, Navadvpa is known as gupta Vndvana. One of the nine islands of Navadvpa is Godrumadvpa, which is described by rla Bhaktivinoda 184
San Francisco
hkura in his Jaiva-dharma. Godrumadvpa is Nandagaon, near to Var. The birthplace of Caitanya Mahprabhu in Mypura is Mathur and Gokula combined. Caitanya Mahprabhu is Ka, with the internal mood and complexion of rmat Rdhr. Ka took birth in Vndvana; partly in Mathur, but fully in Gokula, and both places are combined in Mypura Yogapha. Then, crossing Gag to Koladvpa, where our Devnanda Gauya Maha is situated, we find Girirja-Govardhana. There, all the kujas and caves where Ka played with the sakhs and sakhs are situated. Nearby there is Rasaul, or rsa-sthal, where Candrasarovara is located at the foot of Girirja-Govardhana. Nearby is tudvpa, where Rdh-kua and yma-kua are situated, and that is Kokilavana. Our Devnanda Gauya Maha was constructed by our gurudeva on the West bank of the Gag, the bank where Yamun flows. Mypura is on the East bank of Gag, and Lord Brahm performed thousands and thousands of austerities on that Gag bank. In Navadvpa there is Paca-ve, the meeting place of the Gag, Yamun, Sarasvat, Godvar, Narmad, Sindhu, and Mnas-gag. Rdh-kua and yma-kua are there, and this is all very wonderful. In Mmagchi (Modadrumadvpa), Bahulvana is present, and in the north of Mypura is Bhadravana. Jahnudvpa is Bhravana, and Smantadvpa is Mathur. These truths have been explained by rla Bhaktivinoda hkura in his r Navadvpadhma-mhtmya. Vndvana is in Navadvpa, not in Jaganntha Pur or Godvar. There is one very important point to note, and I am explaining it for those who are senior Vaiavas. They will be able to understand. Junior devotees should note it down, and they should also try to understand. Please consider these things very deeply. With regards to Navadvpa being Vndvana, there are two aa-klya-lls. One is r Caitanya Mahprabhus aa-klya-ll and one is Rdh and Kas aa-klya-ll. Mahprabhus aa-klya-ll takes place in Navadvpa, and it is that aa-klya-ll upon which devotees meditate. They do not meditate on such lls in Jaganntha Pur. In their gaura-gyatr mantra, the brhmaas chant vivambharya dhmahi and gaurya. Why do they utter gaurya? Who is Gaura? Gaura, or Gaurga, is Ka, with the intrinsic mood and beauty or golden color of Rdhik. He is actually Ka, but now He is fully absorbed in the mood of Rdhik. He feels as though He has become Rdhik, and there are three features of Rdhik. One is Vrabhnu-j 185
or Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik, one is Viyogin Rdhik, and one is Sayogn Rdhik. Like Ka, Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik never goes out of Vndvana. Ka and Rohi-nandana Rma are always in Vndvana. If They are going towards Mathur, They will turn back to Vndvana at the borderline. Rohi-nandana Rma cannot go out of Vndvana, because He always remains with Ka. Only Their manifestations, Vasudeva-nandana Ka and Vasudevanandana Baladeva, will go to Mathur and Dvrak. The pastimes of Ka in Mathur and Dvrak are transcendental and everlasting, as are the pastimes of Vrajendra-nandana Ka in Vndvana. Vsudeva Ka plays eternally in Mathur, and in Vndvana, Vrajendra-nandana Ka is eternally playing. Rdhik has three moods or three features. Ka will not change when He goes to Mathur, but He will not use His flute and peacock-feather. He will change His father and mother, but not His form. Only His mood will be changed, and mood is the prominent factor of determination. If He takes His flute and peacock-feather, and He tells everyone, I am the son of Nanda and Yaod, then He is Vrajendra-nandana Ka. On the other hand, if He has no peacock-feather and flute, and He tells everyone, I am the son of Vasudeva and Devak, then He is present by His praka (manifestation). His manifestation is not fully He Himself, the Supreme. In the same way, Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik is always with Ka in Vndvana. In Nandagaon, where Rdhik felt so much separation and spoke Bhramara-gta, She is Viyogin Rdhik. Actually, She is never in viyoga, in the sense that She is never separated from Ka. rla Rpa Gosvm has explained this truth in his Lalitmdhava and also in Ujjvala-nlamai. That is why Kavi Karapra has not discussed the ll of Mathur and Dvrak. He completes his nanda-vndvana-camp just after rsa-ll. Our cryas cannot tolerate the idea that Rdhik should be separated from Ka. In Her original and complete feature She is called Vabhnu-nandin. She is eternally with Nanda-nandana Ka, and the Rdhik who feels separation in Nandagaon is Her manifestation, Viyogin Rdhik. She is the same Rdhik, but She is feeling viyoga, or separation. Then, in Kuruketra, She is Sayogn Rdhik. She goes there for a moment, for one or two days and, keeping Ka on the chariot of Her mind, She brings Him back to Vndvana. Sayoga means always meeting. 186
San Francisco
In the mantra gaurya svh or tan no gaura pracodayt, the name Vivambhara is uttered. Vivambhara never lived in the cave (Gambhr) in Jaganntha Pur, for He is ac-nandana Gaurahari in Navadvpa. From there He gives so much knowledge, so much love and affection, and a very high-class prema to the jvas. He even gave prema to Jagi and Mdhi. Vivambharya dhmahi. We meditate on Him in Navadvpa. In Gambhr, Mahprabhu played a role of great opulence. At that time, in the night, only Rya Rmnanda and Svarpa Dmodara, Vikh and Lalit, were able to witness His pastimes. Although rla Rpa Gosvm was always hearing and knowing all of Mahprabhus pastimes, even he could not go there to witness these. In Godvar, Mahprabhu manifested His form as rasarjamahbhva. This is opulence. At that time even Rmnanda Rya began to pray like Devak or Arjuna, O, You are that same Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is opulence. In Navadvpa there is no opulence. In Navadvpa, acnandana played as Ka played with the girls in Vndvana. While bathing in the Gag He would say to the little girls, Will you marry Me? I want to marry you; if you will not marry Me then you will not be happy. Give your offerings of sandea and bananas to Me. This comes in the category of the aa-klya-ll of Caitanya Mahprabhu, and it is therefore far superior to any ll in Jaganntha Pur. In Navadvpa there is svrasik upsan, meditational worship of the continual flow of unlimited lls taking place throughout each twenty-four hour day; whereas in Pur there is mantramay upsan, meditational worship of a specific ll, as in this case rmat Rdhiks separation feelings for Ka. In Navadvpa Mahprabhu performed His mdhurya-ll, whereas in Jaganntha Pur all the ll is full of aivarya. In Navadvpa anyone could quarrel with acnandana, as school friends. Gaddhara Paita and Jagadnanda Paita always used to quarrel with Him like little children, and ac M also used to chastise her son. In Jaganntha Pur, however, even the King, although wanting to place his head at Mahprabhus lotus feet, was not allowed to come to Him. Rya Rmnanda and all others always prayed to Mahprabhu. He was not considered their friend, but rather He was considered so much greater than them. In this way, the ll in Navadvpa is sweeter than the ll of Jaganntha Pur, and there are so many deep truths hidden therein. If you take bath in Navadvpa, at Jaganntha Gha, Brakoa, you will come out at Ke Gha, Vndvana, where rsa-ll is 187
going on. However, if you take bath in the ocean at Jaganntha Pur at Svarga-dvra, you will not come out in Vndvana. Only if you are in the Gambhr can you know something of the glory of Vndvana, and you will have a very thick greed to go there. Navadvpa is therefore more glorious than Jaganntha Pur, and it is even more glorious than Godvar, where Mahprabhu met with r Rya Rmnanda. Although Caitanya Mahprabhu engaged in so many pastimes in Navadvpa, still He took sannysa because of His compassion. He wanted to sprinkle His mercy. He did not only come to taste rasa. In Navadvpa He was tasting and giving something, but in order to give more, He took the renounced life of a sannys. He left ac M and Viupriy, which was a very pathetic scene. Ka left the gops in Vndvana, He came to Mathur, and after that He came to Dvrak. Mahprabhu also left Viupriy dev as Rmacandra left His St forever, and this was all very pathetic. After taking sannysa, Mahprabhu went to Pur, after that He was admitted in the school of Rya Rmnanda and then Svarpa Dmodara, and then He preached His mission of rga-mrga, rgnuga-bhakti. r Caitanya Mahprabhu at o-gopntha in Pur The following is a discussion with rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja at the o Gopntha Mandira in Jaganntha Pur, September, 1993: Whenever Mahprabhu went to Jaganntha Mandira and saw Subhadr and Baladeva, He did not experience very much pleasure. Rather, in front of Baladeva and His sister Subhadr, He felt very shy and thought, I have come to Kuruketra. He was in the mood of rmat Rdhik at Kuruketra where, in great separation, She tried to bring Ka (Jaganntha) to Vndvana. In the mood of rmat Rdhik, Mahprabhu did not like to see Ka at Kuruketra because all His associates, along with all His Queens of Dvrak, were present, and there were so many horses and elephants. There was no chance for Rdhik to be with Ka in private, and this is why Mahprabhu always felt unbearable separation in Pur. His residence in Gambhr was therefore like Rdhik being in Vndvana and feeling separation for Ka in Dvrak. The mood of separation was always present in Mahprabhu in Pur. When Rdhik went to Kuruketra, She could not take rest with Ka. Rather, She was given a separate accommodation in a 188
San Francisco
tent, and Ka lived with the Ydavas and His Queens. When He went to His own accommodation, She felt great separation. In Pur, r Caitanya Mahprabhu sometimes saw the sea as Yamun and jumped in it, but there He wept still more because Ka would disappear. Sometimes He became like a tortoise, His limbs drawn into His body, and sometimes the joints of His arms and legs would become separated by eight inches and remained connected only by skin. At that time, He sometimes appeared like a ghost, and when the devotees saw Him in that condition, they would all become fearful and begin to weep for Him. All this was due to His separation from Ka. Therefore, to get some relief, He would come to take darana of the o-gopntha Deity. Seeing Gopntha, He thought, Oh, I have come to Vndvana. My prantha, the Lord of my life, is here. In this way His tears of separation would subside. On one side of Gopntha we see rmat Rdhik, on the other side Lalit, and both are black like Ka. When Mahprabhu used to see Gopntha, being in the mood of Rdhik, He (She) became one in mood with Ka and became black. Rdh becomes black by seeing Her prantha and becoming absorbed in Him. She sometimes takes Kas flute and plays it, and in this way also, She becomes black. In the mood of rmat Rdhik, Ka becomes Mahprabhu, and Lalit becomes r Svarpa Dmodara. This is the mood of o-gopntha with Rdhik and Lalit. You can see that Gopntha is sitting. Although you do not see any other vigraha sitting, He sits. Some say that when rla Gaddhara Paita became old, he could no longer offer garlands to Gopntha, and therefore Gopntha sat down. But this is not actually the reason. When Caitanya Mahprabhu disappeared at the age of forty-eight, r Gaddhara Paita was only one year younger. He left this world a year after Mahprabhu disappeared, and thus there was no chance for him to become old. The actual history is that when Mahprabhu disappeared, following the order of Mahprabhu, r Gaddhara Paita did not leave the worship of Gopntha. Always feeling separation, he quickly became lean and thin and could not even stand up to give Him a garland. Seeing Gaddhara Paita in such a state, Gopntha sat down for him, and Gaddhara Paita continued to offer the garlands along with his tears. There was a bhakta of r Caitanya Mahprabhu named Mmu hkura who used to render various services to Him. Soon after Mahprabhu disappeared, rla Gaddhara Paita also 189
disappeared, and at that time his disciple Mmu hkura was appointed by the government of Pur to serve Gopntha. He was old about 84 years and he could not properly offer garlands to Gopntha. Some say that perhaps because Mmu hkura could not give garlands to Gopntha in his old age, Gopntha sat down for him. Actually, however, Gopntha sat for rmat Rdhik (r Gaddhara Paita). It is a common thing for rmat Rdhik that Ka stands up and sits down for Her.
5 An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Navadvpa, India, March 25, 2001:
rmat Rdhik is the highest shelter of prema, but She Herself has three aspects. One aspect is the root, and the other two are Her expansions. In Vndvana, especially in Govardhana, Nandagaon, Var, Rdh-kua, yma-kua, and similar places, She is Vabhnu-nandin. She is the root, and She includes Her expansions as well. She never leaves Vndvana. In Nandagaon (Uddhava Kyr) She is Viyogin Rdh after Ka went to Mathur. The astonishing madness of separation She experienced as Viyogin Rdh is recorded in Bhramara-gta. As Sayogn Rdh She spent three months in Kuruketra, where She met with r Ka. Although this is the aspect of Rdhik who meets with Ka at Kuruketra, Her desire cannot be fulfilled there; She wants to go back to Vndvana. It is the same Ka there in Kuruketra, but in a different dress. There no flute in His hand and no peacock feather crown. He is not Yaod-nandana, Nanda-nandana, Rdh-knta; He is not addressed by those names. The mood there is very different, because there are so many elephants, horses, and a huge army, and Vasudeva and Devak and all their associates are present. There is no forest like Vndvana there, no Yamun, no peacocks and no deer. rmat Rdhik tells r Ka, My heart is not satisfied. There is not even one drop of the ocean of rasa of Vndvana here in Kuruketra. I dont want to be here. Ka told Her, You should meditate, and You will realize that You are always with Me. If You will meditate, My lotus feet will appear in Your heart. She replied, My heart and mind are the same, and My mind is Vndvana. So You should come to Vndvana. This is the meaning of Ratha-ytr. The ratha (cart) is the chariot of Rdhiks mind, the 190
San Francisco
chariot of Rdhiks desire, taking Lord Ka back to Vndvana, back to Vraja (represented by the Guic temple). Sayogn means that there is samyoga, a meeting between Rdh and Ka, but Rdhik wants to go back to Vndvana. She wants to return to the forest of vetas trees; that is, the forest of kadamba trees, the forest which is fragrant with bel, cmeli, and jh flowers. She wants to take Ka there. Therefore, first Rdhik is Vabhnu-nandin Rdhik. Second She is Viyogin Rdhik, who is always in a separation mood and absorbed in citrajalpa, prajalpa, divyonmada, and other such bhvas of separation. And in Kuruketra She is Sayogn Rdhik. She is meeting with Ka, but there is no happiness because all the sweet stimuli of Vndvana are missing. Kuruketra is filled with many outside elements that are contrary to vraja-prema. Therefore, Rdhik situates Ka on the chariot of Her mind and, along with all the other gops, brings r Ka back to Vndvana. This is the meaning of Ratha-ytr, and these are the moods Mahprabhu relished in Jaganntha Pur.
6 rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja is referring to the first word of the following verse by rla Rpa Gosvm, describing pure bhakti:
anybhilit-nya jna-karmdy-anvtam nuklyena knulana bhaktir uttam Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu (1.1.11)

Uttama-bhakti is the cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the pleasure of r Ka; in other words, the uninterrupted flow of service to Him, performed through all endeavors of the body, mind, and speech, and through the expression of various bhvas (spiritual sentiments). It is not covered by jna (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), yoga, or austerities; and it is completely free from all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Ka.
In his lecture on the nature of pure bhakti, spoken in Jaganntha Pur, October 9, 2001, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja elaborated on the meaning of anybhilsit in the following way: 191
Anybhilsit-nya. First of all, the general idea means there is no selfishness. The devotee does not serve Ka to get anything in return. He is not doing anusilanam (uninterrupted devotional service) for his own happiness or with any expectations. But here it is not stated anybhilsa-nya, completely devoid of all other desires. The verse is saying anybhilsit-nya. The suffix sit indicates that one should be devoid of all desires except for the service of Ka in ones svabhva, ones natural position. If one is sitting down chanting and everything is peaceful, then in his nature he has no desire other than to serve Ka. If a calamity or crisis or great danger will come, if someone comes to kill or beat that person, then at that time his regular nature, his svabhva, becomes transformed, and at that time he may call out, O Ka, save me. In this situation the devotee appears to be asking Ka for something for himself, but this mood is not in him. It is not in his svabhva in ordinary circumstances. Therefore, by the word anybhilsit, this suffix sit has made a concession to include this devotee in the definition of uttama-bhakti.
7
The following is an explanation given by Prema-prayojana dsa on r Baladeva Prim, August 12, 2003, at r Rpa-Santana Gauya Maha in Vndvana. When rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja heard this explanation, he expressed his appreciation of how well the subtle tattvas (established philosophical truths) were so clearly explained. He said that he wanted this told everywhere, so that all the devotees could know these truths:
So, why has Baladeva Prabhu performed this rsa-ll? rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura has explained the identity of the gops with whom Baladeva Prabhu was dancing. This is a point of great controversy. I will try to explain the vicra, the deliberations on the subject, one after another, and in the end present the vieavicra, the special conclusion, of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura mentioned that at the time of akhaca-vadha (the pastime of Ka killing the demon akhaca), holi-ll was going on at Govardhana. During that pastime some gops were standing very far away and were looking at Baladeva Prabhu. Ka Himself glanced at Baladeva Prabhu to indicate to Him that those gops had some special attachment for Baladeva. rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura commented
192
San Francisco
that Baladeva Prabhu performed rsa-ll with those gops who were looking at Him. rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura has given another explanation. When Ka left Vndvana for Mathur, there were many gops in Vraja who were not old enough to meet with Ka in rsa-ll. Later, when Baladeva Prabhu returned to Vndvana, He did rsa-ll with them, fulfilling their desire now that they were old enough to take part in such a ll. These explanations have been given for loka-sagraha, for the general people who are in ignorance of rasa-tattva. They cannot understand what is rsa-ll and how Baladeva Prabhu can also perform rsa-ll with Kas gops. Why does Baladeva Prabhu perform rsa-ll with Kas gops? This is His service. Ordinarily in this world, when the prkta-nyaka and nyik (the mundane hero and heroine) meet together, they do so for their own happiness and their own pleasure. But who is Baladeva Prabhu? He is Ka Himself. He is abhinnapraka, non-different from Ka, but with sevaka-abhimna, the identification that He is Kas servant. He is composed entirely of this sevaka-abhimna, and therefore everything that He does is for the service of Ka. Thus, if Baladeva Prabhu has performed rsall with Kas gops, the idea should never enter into the mind that Baladeva Prabhu has any bhoga-vtti, enjoying tendency. He has done this for the sake of Kas service, in order to pacify the gops mood of separation for Ka. When Baladeva saw that He was completely unable to appease the gops sorrow, He Himself became overwhelmed in separation. He began to weep bitter tears and called out, O Ka! O Ka! Why did You leave Vndvana? Then, when Baladeva Prabhu was completely absorbed in separation from Ka, His complexion turned blackish. This is why here in Vraja-maala there are famous Deities of Baladeva Prabhu in Dauji, Mahvana, and Madhuvana that are black: to remind us of this very pastime. rla Jva Gosvm had explained that Baladeva manifested millions of forms upon seeing the very high separation mood of the gops. In each form He took one gop to a kuja, and then He cried out for Ka, O Ka, please come to Vndvana. Then, immediately, Ka manifested millions of forms, took the hand of each gop, and entered each kuja, where He fulfilled their hearts desires to serve Him. In this way Baladeva Prabhu draws r Ka to Vndvana, and He is therefore known as Sakaraa.
193
An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Hawaii, May 23, 2000: The vaiava-sannysa daa represents the control of three things: our body, our words, and our mind. In this tridaa, as Nryaa-svarpa, there are actually four large sticks the four together representing Nryaa and one small stick on the top, which represents the jva. We must give our heart, and our body, mind, and words, to Ka. By these three we serve Him. There is also another meaning: Ka, His power, Rdhik, and service to Them. These are also three, and there is yet another set of three: Bhakti (devotion), bhakta (the devotee), and Bhagavn (the Lord).
194
195
Badger
June 20, 2007

Morning Walk
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are there any questions? Jna-akti dsa: I have a question about the husbands of the gops in Vraja. Are they somewhat in a mood of aivarya towards Ka (the consideration of r Kas opulence and majesty)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, not at all. They are always in a mdhurya mood (the consideration of Ka as one of the cowherd folk). There is an abundance of aivarya in Vndvana, but it is always covered by mdhurya, or sweetness, that is, a sense of a sweet, human-like relationship with Ka. Sometimes, when there is a need, on very rare occasions, opulence comes to serve Ka there. For example, Kas lifting of Govardhana Hill was a pastime of great opulence and majesty, but all the gopas were thinking that they were helping Him to lift it. When Nanda Bb and Yaod heard and saw Ka lifting Govardhana, they never considered that He was personally lifting it. Rather, they were of the conviction that We have worshiped Nryaa, and by His mercy He is lifting this hill through Ka. rpda Nemi Mahrja: The gopas, the cowherd boys who Ka plays with in the fields, are they also married? Does Ka play with their wives? Or, is He playing with other gopas wives? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He is playing with His own wives. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: His own potencies. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He is playing with His most beloved gops. By the influence of Yogamy, the gops seem to have husbands. This was arranged by Yogamy so that the gops can enjoy parakyabhva (the mood of a paramour) with Ka, as there is not as much rasa, or mellow taste, in svakya-bhva (the mood of Kas wife, or queen). Giridhr dsa (from Los Angeles): Life is short in Kali-yuga. At this time, the only strong quality remaining in this world is honesty. So, I think that brahmacr life is the best life. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not honesty; only ka-bhakti.
197
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: What he is trying to say is that he wants to take saffron cloth from you. He is asking that you give him brahmacarya. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. I will be happy if you live in our temples, like Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco. Bring me some saffron cloth. I will make you a brahmacr at this festival, but then you must be very bold in your preaching. [To all the devotees present] Does anyone else here desire to become a brahmacr? Does anyone else want saffron cloth? Do any of you, even if you are now a householder, want to enter the sannysa rama? I want to make many brahmacrs and sannyss, and I want to make Los Angeles a strong preaching center. [To Jayai dsa] You should be in charge of a preaching center. You are very qualified. [To all the devotees present] Are there any other questions? Baladeva dsa: We understand from scripture that r guru is present everywhere. It is stated in rmad-Bhgavatam (1.2.2), ta sarvabhta-hdaya munim nato smi [I offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage ukadeva Gosvm, who can enter the hearts of all]. So, what is the difference between my asking in an internal prayer to gurudeva to remove all obstacles to my bhakti like lust, anger, greed illusion, madness, and bewilderment and asking him directly, face to face, to remove them? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If the guru is on the level of rla ukadeva Gosvm, there is no need of asking face to face. Guru is a manifestation of Ka, and therefore he is powerful enough that his response will inspire your heart. If the guru is not of rla ukadeva Gosvms caliber and is a madhyama-adhikr (an intermediate devotee), then Ka will fulfill the disciples desire on behalf of that guru. Brajanth dsa: What if the disciple prays to the qualified guru, and he also wants to ask in person? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is also good, but if he is far away and cannot ask in person and he earnestly prays within his heart, the reply will come. Rdh-knta dsa: rla Gurudeva, it is said that the guru gives the conception of sambandha-jna (ones eternal relationship with Ka) when he gives dk-mantras to the disciple. If the 198
Badger
guru is only on the madhyama (intermediate) platform and the understanding of his own and his disciples svarpa, or eternal form, is not complete, then what conception can he give? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: First understand that at the time of dk, all kinds of anarthas are eradicated and ones relationship with Ka is realized. Nowadays, dk is not actual (vidvad-rh) dk.1 Rather, in the ordinary dk of present days, gurudeva is giving only some qualification to the disciple to begin his dk process. Later, when the disciples relationship is realized, then his dk is real, or actual. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Rdh-knta prabhus question is this: If a madhyama-adhikr has no realization of his own relation with Ka, then how can he give this? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He can give something, even though he does not have that realization. Then, in this life, or in future lives, the disciple will find a perfect guru; and by surrendering to that perfect guru he will be able to realize his relationship with Ka. Rdh-knta dsa: So ultimately we have to take ik from an uttama-bhgavata (topmost devotee)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You cannot realize who is an uttama Vaiava in your present stage. When you become a madhyama-uttama Vaiava (the highest level of madhyama, just prior to the uttama Vaiava stage), then you will be able to realize. Gokula dsa (from Australia): Cant an uttama-adhikr2 make you realize? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, he can. He knows a disciples level of qualification, and he gives his mercy accordingly. A father places weight upon his sons head according to his sons capacity; not more than that. Guru does this as well. Padmanbha dsa: How can one progress from anuhnik dk (official, ordinary dk) to vidvad-rh (actual) dk? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Listen to hari-kath and perform guru-sev. Both are essential:
1 See Endnote 1, at the end of this chapter. 2 Uttama-adhikr, uttama-vaiava, and uttama-bhgavata are different terms for the topmost devotee.
199
tad viddhi praiptena paripranena sevay upadekyanti te jna jninas tattva-darina Bhagavad-gt (4.34)
[Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.*]
You will have to serve guru, follow his orders, and hear his harikath. The knowledge given by him will gradually manifest in your heart and you will become qualified for vidvad-rh. rpda Nemi Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, in his letters, our guru mahrja (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja) did not usually say that he was giving dk. He said that he was giving second initiation. What kind of dk was he giving, or not giving? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Did he give the guru-mantra and all the other mantras? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is dk. He called it second initiation as an English translation.3 Harinma is given first. If dk and harinma are given at the same time, at the same ceremony, then harinma is given first and just after that dk is given. rpda Nemi Mahrja: You were saying that nowadays ones dk is not vidvad-rh. It is merely giving some adhikra, or qualification, for later advancement. Is the bona fide guru simply giving some adhikra, or is he giving full dk? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The guru gives an opportunity for the disciples to begin their dk process. We see in Jaiva-dharma that when Vijaya Kumra and Vrajantha took dk, they at once realized and saw Gauracandra (r Caitanya Mahprabhu), but nowadays the dk initiations are not of that caliber. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: Is it that the madhyama-guru gives instructions, thereby giving their disciples sukti (spiritual merits), and then, when the disciple follows these instructions he will get the association of the topmost devotees?
200
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A disciple should always think, My gurudeva is an uttama-adhikr and an associate of r Ka. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Otherwise he cannot advance. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He should think like that. In the Bhagavad-gt there is a loka which states that if anyone is worshiping the demigods, the fruit of that worship is given by Ka, because the demigods have no power to give that fruit. Suppose you worship grass or straw, thinking, I am worshiping Ka. That straw is not Ka, but if you consider, Ka is here, I am worshiping Him, He will know this and sprinkle His mercy upon you at once. [To rpda Bhgavat Mahrja] You can take two or three brahmacrs with you. rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: We have already arranged for Madhukra, Pra-govinda, and Abhirma to come with me. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good; and the others should remain in Los Angeles under the guidance of Avadhta Mahrja. I want Los Angeles to be the most prominent center in America. Here in Badger, I want to give classes on the conversations between the Nava-yogendras (the nine highly elevated and renounced sons of King abhadeva) and Nimi Mahrja. I want to speak about their nine answers to the kings nine questions. All our speakers should know this subject matter and be ready to be called upon. Nhari dsa: Do you want only sannyss and brahmacrs in the preaching center in Los Angeles, or do you want ghasthas, house holders, there as well? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ghasthas may also be there those ghasthas who can give their whole time for bhajana and service. Generally ghasthas cannot give full-time service, and that is why I did not mention them before. It does not matter whether one is ghastha or in the renounced order all the devotees will work together but husband and wife should not live together in the maha (temple). Gokula dsa: Why are you saying that we should give prominence to preaching in Los Angeles? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is a prominent place. From the beginning, when I first went there, I told the devotees that Los Angeles is a big city with a large population. We can therefore 201
preach all over the world from there. There are many opportunities and resources to preach everywhere from there. Hdaya-govinda dsa: rla Gurudeva, You have been instructing us for many years about book distribution and bringing devotees to you. I see that, especially in the Bay Area of San Francisco, so many people are hungry for your books. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I request you to stand up in class and speak about this. I will support you. Hdaya-govinda dsa: I have a question. When our rla Prabhupda was present, he said that if a disciple prays to him, that disciple will become empowered to distribute more books. How does this work? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He inspired them. Devotees should distribute books, and they should also realize the nectar contained within the books. If they do not read the books, their book distribution will be only karma (fruitive action for personal gain). Devotee: Do you give harinma and dk at the same time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If I think that one is qualified for both, then I do so. If one can chant more than sixteen rounds daily and has some knowledge and strong belief, then I give both at the same time. Pra-govinda dsa (from Alachua): In the rmad-Bhgavatam, Sixth Canto, Chapter 1, Verse 1 [purport by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja], it is said that at the end of one hundred years of Brahms life, all the residents of his planet will go back home, back to Godhead. Pravianti para padam. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, this is not at all true. He did not say this. They will enter the body of Kraodakay Viu along with Brahm. Pra-govinda dsa: So what is para padam? rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja put a verse in the end of his purport, saying pravianti para padam.4 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: With regard to those who are not liberated, how can they go to the spiritual world?5 Only if one is
202
Badger
liberated by completing his course of bhakti can he be admitted there. Regarding those who still have anarthas and are still committing sins, how can they go? They will sleep within the divine body of Kraodakay Viu, and at that time their physical bodies will no longer be with them. At the time of death their souls (covered by a type of subtle body), along with Brahm, will enter into the body of Garbhodakay Viu, and Garbhodakay Viu will then merge into Kraodakay Viu. They will all be there, and after creation they will all take birth again according to their previous karmas. There is no pralaya, meaning devastation or annihilation, on Brahmaloka at the end of Brahms day. At that time the topmost heavenly planets remain, and all the other heavenly and lower planets are annihilated. At the time of mah-pralaya, however, which is the end of Brahms life, all the planets below the Viraj River6 will be abolished. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Will Brahm be liberated at that time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If Brahm is qualified, he will be liberated otherwise not.7 Regarding the other residents of his planet, they will also sleep within the transcendental body of Kraodakay Viu. Pra-govinda dsa: I heard from someone that our rla Prabhupda said on a morning walk that all jvas first took birth in this material world as Brahm. I never heard this from him personally. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: rla rdhara Mahrja and rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja have both said that the first birth of the jva in this world was as Brahm. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have not heard this in my entire life of eighty-seven years. I am very well acquainted with both rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja and rla Bhakti Rakaka rdhara Mahrja. I know that they did not say this. rpda Nikicana Mahrja (at that time Brajendra-nandana dsa): Gurudeva, you once said in Costa Rica, in a conversation with rpda Paramadvaiti Mahrja, that even if one is a madhyama
6 Viraj literally, free from the influence of rajo-gua, the material mode of
passion. The Viraj, sometimes referred to as the River Viraj, is the boundary between the material and spiritual worlds.
203
devotee, if he has no connection with an uttama devotee he cannot deliver his disciple. My question is that in order to give dk, must a madhyama-guru have a connection with an uttama devotee who is present in this world. Is that a fact? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, this is quite wrong. He can give dk. We should try to follow the direction of r Caitanyacaritmta and our Gosvms. [To Mahbhart dsa and the drama team] I want to see a drama about the life and character of Prahlda Mahrja, and in addition you can perform whatever other drama you like. Tamla Ka dsa: rla Gurudeva, when I see my son, how shall I behave with him? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can have affection for him and you can do your duty; there is no harm in that. But do not be attached to him. Simply do your duty.
June 21, 2007

Morning Walk
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yesterday (evening) we explained two questions. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: Yes, the questions that were answered by Kavi and Havi. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What was the first question? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: The first question was, What is the ultimate good, the ultimate benefit? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To raut Mahrja] Can you answer? rpda raut Mahrja: What is Mmm rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It takes you so much time to answer? rpda Tridai Mahrja: What is the process to achieve? 204
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That was not the real question. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: What is the easiest way for someone to become free from the cycle of birth and death? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The question was: What is bhgavata-dharma? By engaging in the process of bhgavata-dharma, all problems will very easily disappear, the pain of endless births will cease, and ka-prema will manifest. This was the question. What was the answer? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: One must associate with sdhus. By the association of a sdhu and the holy name rpda Mdhava Mahrja: ye vai bhagavat prokt upy hy tma-labdhaye aja pusm avidu viddhi bhgavatn hi tn rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.34)
[Even ignorant living entities can very easily come to know the Supreme Lord if they adopt those means prescribed by the Supreme Lord Himself. The process recommended by the Lord is known as bhgavata-dharma, or devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.*]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is the same teaching given by Ka Himself, regarding how He can be easily attained; how we can very easily attain His love and affection. By ravaam (hearing about Him), krtanam (chanting His names and glories), and smaraam (remembering Him), all the pain born from all problems will easily disappear. After this, Kavi explained: You have forgotten r Ka. So, first go to guru, accept him, and serve him. In this way you will be able to serve Ka. bhaya dvitybhiniveata syd d apetasya viparyayo smti tan-myayto budha bhajet ta bhaktyaikayea guru-devattm rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.37) 205
[Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself with the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is affected by the potency for illusion, called my. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master whom he should accept as his worshipful deity and as his very life and soul.*]
Kavi also explained: yn sthya naro rjan na pramdyeta karhicit dhvan nimlya v netre na skhalen na pated iha rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.35)
[O King, one who accepts this process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead will never blunder on his path in this world. Even while running with eyes closed, he will never trip or fall.*]
If one follows this path, even if he runs with his eyes closed, he will not fall down. What is the meaning of this verse? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: For those who are on this path, which has been given by r Ka, practicing ravaam, krtanam, and smaraam under the guidance and shelter of sad-guru (a self-realized guru), it does not matter how difficult that path is. Still rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura comments that running with ones eyes closed means that even if someone is not conversant with all the stras, but he performs navavidh-bhakti, the nine-fold processes of bhakti, he will be assured of success. Am I understanding this correctly? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. [To rpda Padmanbha Mahrja] What is the meaning? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: This path of bhgavata-dharma is directly given by r Ka. All the difficulties and pitfalls that are 206
Badger
in the paths of karma-yoga, jna-yoga, and aga-yoga8 have no effect on the devotee, because bhgavata-dharma is the nature of the soul. The souls natural position is to serve r Ka. Therefore, if the soul submits to the process of pure bhakti, he is protected. In fact, even if he is not perfect in following, he will still be supported. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To rpda Trida Mahrja] Can you tell something more about this? rpda Trida Mahrja: You have to have courage and faith to keep on moving. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Dhra-ka dsa] Can you explain this? Dhra-ka dsa: It has already been emphasized that we should serve gurudeva as our own tm (soul). In that type of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You cannot explain it. Better to listen to my explanation. Speaking the words of Kavi, rla ukadeva Gosvm says that if one who is on this path closes his eyes and runs very quickly, he cannot fall down or be derailed. What is the meaning? Vaidhbhakti is a slow development. The devotee practicing vaidh-bhakti carefully opens his eyes, but his progress is very slow. On the other hand, those who follow rgnuga-bhakti are closing their eyes. This means that even though they may neglect some limbs of bhakti, like dvrak-dhyna (meditation on Kas pastimes in Dvrak), or arcana, they are successful. They always weep: eva-vrata sva-priya-nma-krty jtnurgo druta-citta uccai hasaty atho roditi rauti gyaty unmda-van ntyati loka-bhya rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.40)
8 Karma-yoga is the path to God realization through dedication of the fruits of
ones work to God. Jna-yoga is the process of spiritual elevation based on philosophical intro spection and cultivation of knowledge. Aga-yoga is the yoga system, consisting of eight parts: yama (control of the senses), niyama (control of the mind), sana (bodily postures), pryma (breath control), pratyhra (withdrawal of the mind from sensory perception), dhra (steadying the mind), dhyna (meditation), and samdhi (deep and unbroken absorption on the Lord in the heart).
207
[In the heart of one who adopts such a transcendental vow, attachment for chanting the name of his most dear Lord arises and melts his heart. Now he rises above the condition of the general mass of people, and he is beyond caring for their opinions and views. In a natural way not out of pretence he acts as if mad. Sometimes he bursts out laughing and sometimes he sheds floods of tears. Sometimes, in a loud voice, he calls out to Bhagavn and sometimes, with a sweet voice, he sings Bhagavns glories. At other times, when he perceives his beloved standing before his eyes, he even starts dancing in order to please Him.]
The devotional activities described in this verse are not about vaidh-bhakti. The devotee described here is always weeping and laughing, devoid of any shame. This is the meaning. When one follows rgnuga-bhakti, there is no harm if he neglects the few limbs of vaidh-bhakti which are not favorable for the cultivation of rgnuga.9 By the process of rgnuga-bhakti alone, even if he neglects other processes, he will attain all success. This is the hidden meaning of running with ones eyes closed. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Can we say, then, that the entire first answer of Kavi refers to rgnuga-bhakti? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He begins his reply from vaidhbhakti, which includes the verse beginning bhaya dvitybhiniveata, and then he reaches rgnuga-bhakti. Vndvana dsa: In regard to what you were saying about the devotee on this path being able to reach perfection while running with his eyes closed, does this support the statement that bhakti is not dependent on anything? Is that the understanding? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I explained the meaning that in vaidh-bhakti you follow certain rules and regulations, with very slow progress. You must go very carefully, with open eyes, respecting all and following all regulations of the bhakti line. Then, after a long time or even after many births rgnuga-bhakti will manifest. Closing ones eyes and running very fast refers to the true rgnuga sdhakas neglect of some of the limbs of bhakti. There will be no chance of falling down for him; he will continue to perfection.10
9 See Endnote 6, at the end of this chapter. 10 In this morning walk, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja is speaking about a
truly advanced rgnug sdhaka. In Endnote 7 you will find excerpts from a lecture
208
Badger
Here, in this verse [rmad-Bhgavatam 11.2.40], there is no mention of the limbs of bhakti. Actually, the devotee described in this particular verse is a mah-mah-bhgavata [playing the role of a rgnugabhakta]. He is doing nothing here, nothing, except calling out, Ha (alas) Ka! Ha Ka! Sometimes laughing, sometimes weeping, seeing Ka in his heart, and sometimes becoming silent (mauni). He will not fall down, even if he neglects any limb of bhakti, and he will rapidly increase in his love. Abhirma dsa: rla Guru Mahrja, is it favorable for bhakti to follow krtika-vrata11 in Badger? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Surely. You can follow it anywhere. And we must also follow cturmsya-vrata12; not only in Badger, but everywhere in the world. Padmanbha dsa: Gurudeva, does closing his eyes and running mean that the sdhaka is not following at least the basic principles of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You have not understood, and therefore you cannot ask a proper question. Try to understand what I have just explained. Padmanbha dsa: I understood a little bit, Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You cannot understand. You will have to become like them (the sannyss and brahmacrs present), being without wife and without possessions; always hearing and thinking about bhakti subjects, and serving them. Then you will be able to easily understand. Indupati dsa: We see many devotees who go to Vndvana and absorb themselves in chanting. They ignore many limbs of bhakti and simply chant in Vndvana, but after some time they leave the process entirely. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Such persons are not following rgnuga. Rgnuga-bhakti is very rare, very rare. Whether in
in which he warns his audience for imitation of this advanced stage, and giving up the regulative principles of bhakti in the name of following rgnuga-bhakti.
11 Krtika-vrata is a one month vow (usually in OctoberNovember) to follow
certain regulations, restrict the intake of certain foodstuffs, visit the pastimes places of Ka in Vndvana, not criticizing others, etc.
12 Cturmsya-vrata is a four-month vow (usually from JulyAugust till October November) that also includes restricting the intake of certain foodstuffs.
209
Vndvana or anywhere else, such ordinary devotees are prone to commit offenses. What I explained is for rgnuga-bhaktas like Raya Rmnanda. He was taking care of young and very beautiful naked ladies without being at all affected. Can you do so? Indupati dsa: No, rla Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: One who tries to do so without having rla Rya Rmnandas qualification, thus neglecting the regulative principles, is simply lusty. Only persons like rla Svarpa Dmodara and rla Rpa Gosvm can do such things. They are qualified, and the attainment of their qualification is our lifes aim and object. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Some devotees say, rla Gurudeva, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja, is preaching rgnuga-bhakti. We should therefore only hear rasa-kath, and in that way we can enter into rgnuga-bhakti. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What am I explaining here? Rgnuga-bhakti? Or what? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: You are explaining vaidh-bhakti also. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I am discussing mostly vaidhbhakti. I am not discussing anything at all about rsa-ll. They are speaking falsely. rpda Sajjana Mahrja: It is sometimes said that this path of bhakti is like a sharp razors edge. Is this only in relation to navavidh-bhakti, the nine-fold process of vaidh-bhakti? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is this world that is like the sharp edge of a razor (kurasya dhr), not bhakti. Bhakti is very soft. You do not understand? This world, which is made of ignorance, is kurasya dhr; there are problems everywhere. Give up this ignorance and come to bhakti. This is the meaning of the verse you refer to. What was the second question of Nimi Mahrja to the nine sages? rpda Nemi Mahrja: What are the qualities of the different grades of devotees who practice bhgavata-dharma? The grades of devotees are uttama-bhagavata, madhyama, and kaniha. rpda Trida Mahrja: And what are their activities? How do they speak? What do they do? 210
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is their behavior? r-rjovca atha bhgavata brta yad-dharmo ydo nm yathcarati yad brte yair ligair bhagavat-priya rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.44)
[Mahrja Nimi said: Now please tell me in greater detail about the devotees of the Supreme Lord. What are the natural symptoms by which I can distinguish between the most advanced devotees, those on the middle level, and those who are neophytes? What are the typical religious activities of a Vaiava, and how does he speak? Specifically, please describe those symptoms and characteristics by which Vaiavas become dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.*]
What was r Havis first answer to this question? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: The first answer is about the uttamabhgavata (the most advanced, first-class devotee). Bhagavata bhavam atmana The uttama-bhgavata sees his own mood of love for r Ka in all living entities. He sees his own bhva (mood of devotion) in all other persons. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is an example of how he thinks? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: He thinks, Everyone is engaged in r Kas service. Everyone has the mood, or bhva, that I have. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the mood of Prahlda Mahrja? rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: He sees Ka everywhere, in everyone, and in everything, and they are totally surrendered to Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He sees all living entities and every aspect of creation in r Ka. This is an example of an uttama-bhgavata. And who is the madhyama? rpda Tridai Mahrja: He distinguishes between rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To rpda Sajjana Mahrja] You? 211
rpda Sajjana Mahrja: A madhyama-adhikr has four different relationships. He sees the Supreme Lord and worships Him in his heart. He sees the devotees and engages in the six exchanges of love with them. He preaches to the innocent and ignorant, but he avoids, or neglects, the envious. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You are not explaining this clearly. Who will explain it? rpda Nemi Mahrja: svare tad-adhneu blieu dviatsu ca prema-maitr-kpopek ya karoti sa madhyama rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.46)
[A madhyama-bhgavata is one who has love for vara and His pure devotees, friendship towards His bhaktas, shows mercy towards those who are innocent [in regard to bhakti], and neglects those who are inimical to vara or His bhaktas.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What do you mean by maitr? rpda Nemi Mahrja: For the madhyama-adhikr there are three different kinds of friendship with devotees. In his friendship with very advanced devotees, he offers everything his heart and soul and all he possesses. He maintains friendship with devotees on the same level of bhakti as himself, and friendship with instruction for less-experienced devotees. These are the three different kinds of maitr. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: And prema? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Prema is defined in this verse: anybhilit-nya jna-karmdy-anvtam nuklyena knulana bhaktir uttam Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu (1.1.11)
[Uttama-bhakti is the cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the pleasure of r Ka; in other
212
Badger
words, the uninterrupted flow of service to Him, performed through all endeavors of the body, mind, and speech, and through the expression of various bhvas (spiritual sentiments). It is not covered by jna (knowledge aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), yoga, or austerities; and it is completely free from all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Ka.]
This is prema towards vara, the Supreme Lord. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And then? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Blieu means that the devotee preaches to those who are outside the devotee saga, and who do not yet understand devotional service. Kaniha-adhikrs are also blieu, and they also need association. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What are the symptoms of a kaniha-adhikr? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: arcym eva haraye pj ya raddhayehate na tad-bhakteu cnyeu sa bhakta prkta smta rmad-Bhgavatam (11.2.47)
[A person who endeavors whole heartedly in the ritualistic worship of the Deity form of r Hari according to worldly faith yet does not worship the devotees of r Hari whose bodies are also temples of r Hari, nor offer respect to other living entities, is known as a materialistic, or kaniha, devotee.]
The kaniha-adhikr has raddh, or faith, in worshiping the Deity form of the Lord. He may also have raddh in guru and may give him proper respect. But he does not know how to recognize devotees, nor does he know on what level different devotees are situated. He does not know how to deal with people in general, and he becomes easily influenced by them. His raddh is komala (very soft and pliable); it can be shaken at any time. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Okay. 213
Aniruddha dsa: Can a kaniha Vaiava preach properly? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What will he preach? He barely knows anything about siddhnta. He should serve madhyamaadhikr Vaiavas and regularly hear from them. Then he will be able to preach properly. Devotee: rla Gurudeva, didnt rla Svm Mahrja Prabhupda use only kanihas to spread Ka consciousness all over the world? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He used to tell them that preaching means distribution of books, reading, and associating with more elevated Vaiavas. How can a kaniha Vaiava preach properly if he only knows arcana and worship of his gurudeva? What can he preach if he doesnt factually understand the other limbs of bhakti, if he cannot differentiate between the uttama, madhyama, and kaniha-adhikr, and if he does not properly understand bhaktisiddhnta? Devotee: Even though we were kaniha, we always said we were madhyama because we preached. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is because rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja wanted to somehow engage all those who came to him. He wanted them to develop a taste for bhakti. He considered that by doing the services he gave them, they would advance in Ka consciousness. This was his motive. [To Subala Sakh dsa] Have you taken many photos in Vndvana? Subala Sakh dsa: In Vndvana? Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When will our Vraja-maala Parikram (large size) book be published? Subala Sakh dsa: It will come out soon. A devotee from Holland is working on the graphics and layout rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And what are you doing? Subala Sakh dsa: I am selecting the photos, and then sending them to him so that he can work on them and put them rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I wanted this book to be published, but Nicintya could not do it and you could not do it. Subala Sakh dsa: It will get done, Gurudeva. I give a hundred per cent guarantee that it will get done. 214
Badger
June 22, 2007

Morning Walk
rpda Nemi Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, in San Francisco you said that we should follow varrama-dharma, the system of four castes and spiritual orders of life. To what extent, or in what sense, do you want us to follow it? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Follow it as your gurudeva, parama-pjyapda rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, told you to follow. If one is a brahmacr, he follows the principles of brahmacarya; if one is a ghastha, he is an exemplary ghastha like rvsa Paita and other pure devotees. Those in the vnaprastha-rama follow the principles of varrama in their rama, and sannyss follow the principles of those in the renounced order. This is vara and rama dharma, the religious system of social, or occupational, and spiritual orders of life. You are not paramahasas (self-realized souls), and that is why you have been told to follow. You must follow varrama. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Varas also? We should all work according to our propensity? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vara and rama; both. Because we follow daiva-varrama (division of society by qualification, not by birth, and executed for the pleasure of the Lord), everyone should accept that which is favorable for bhakti, not other things. For example, we do not accept smrta-kriy, activities performed according to smrta (regulative but not devotional) scriptures. The funeral ceremony for ones father and mother should not be performed according to smrta regulations. If there is a fire sacrifice or a marriage, it should be done solely according to Vaiava scriptures and regulations. rpda Nemi Mahrja: What is the ladies position in varramadharma? You have always emphasized that ladies and gentlemen are equal in bhakti. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: St dev, Arundhat, Anasy, Grg, Maitr, Draupad, Kunt, and other Vaiavs have been given so much respect in our stra and Vedic culture on the same level as is and maharis (the best of the great sages and saints). 215
rpda Sajjana Mahrja: rla Prabhupda has said that ladies are very good and men are very good, but together they are not very good. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If a man and woman are ghastha, it is okay for them to associate with each other. If they are not ghastha, their association will be the cause of their fall-down; this is my. Kmadeva, Cupid, has defeated even Vivmitra, Brahm, and akara (Lord iva).13 The only personalities he could not defeat were Nara-nryaa i and Nrada. rpda Nemi Mahrja: In ISKCON there was a problem because, supposedly, according to the ISKCON members understanding of varrama-dharma, ladies are less intelligent and in a lower position.14 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. Never think like this. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is saying that in ISKCON they used to think like this, and they proclaimed that their conception was according to the principles of varrama. rpda Nemi Mahrja: That conception created a big problem. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, certainly. They dont give respect to ladies, but I give respect, and I want everyone to do so. We give respect according to an individuals qualification. Mahprabhu dsa: Can ladies take management positions in this society? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, so much. In India, Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister. Mahprabhu dsa: So ladies do not just make babies? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They can make so many babies. Indira Gandhi had two very beautiful sons, and one of her sons became the Prime Minister. Her daughter-in-law, Sonya Gandhi, also has one son and one daughter, and her son may also become Prime Minister. In America, Clintons wife may become the President.
13 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja explained elsewhere that these great
personalities were not actually defeated by Cupid; rather, they played that pastime in order to teach us conditioned souls how careful we must be in this regard.
216
Badger
Mahprabhu dsa: I am a family man, rla Gurudeva. I have a family, and I see that the girls are always more intelligent than the boys. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, sometimes they are. Aniruddha dsa: While you were giving class yesterday, my godbrother Harer-nmnanda prabhu (Spanish) prayed to r Ka, I want to have a close relationship with rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. Then, when you were leaving the temple, you approached him and asked, Who are you? He was amazed and startled, thinking, How did he know? He is taking that as a sign of the beginning of his establishing a closer relationship with you. He is a very serious disciple of Prabhupda. He wants to have a closer relationship and serve you, but he wants to know how. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Harer-nmnanda dsa] Hear from me for four more days, and our relation will strengthen automatically. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He wants to know how he can serve you more. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He can serve in any way he thinks best. ivnanda dsa: One or two years ago, in Venice, I was on a morning walk with rla Gurudeva, Brajanth prabhu, and rpda Mdhava Mahrja. I was a little bit upset with some of the activities of ISKCON, and I asked rla Gurudeva, Are these people offenders or asuras (demons)? rla Gurudeva said, They are my children. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To rpda Sajjana Mahrja] Can you explain the meaning of my as I described in my class yesterday? What is my? rpda Sajjana Mahrja: It is hard for me to speak without prior preparation. Devotee: My is the desire to be a second Ka, and that misunder standing creates all the problems of this world. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should know that there are two kinds of my. Ultimately, my is yogamy, r Kas internal desire-potency, whose function is in Goloka Vndvana and in Kas prakaa-ll, His pastimes as manifest in this material 217
world. Yogamym uprita. In His rsa-ll Ka employed His yogamy, His potency that makes the impossible possible, and that yogamy potency made all arrangements for Him and the gops. Without yogamy, rsa-ll would not have been able to take place. There is no function of yogamy in this world. Here in this world, my refers only to worldly my, by which creation, sustenance, and destruction of the cosmos take place. This my is a shadow of the real my, or yogamy. My is also the thinking that, I am this body, these relatives are mine, this wealth is mine, this land is mine, and all my possessions are mine. We think, Oh, wealth will save me; my relatives will help me. This conception is my. My is able to defeat everyone in this world. In Kali-yuga, this present age of quarrel and hypocrisy, she especially attacks sannyss; so be very careful. rpda Nemi Mahrja: How does my attack the sannyss, rla Gurudeva, and how can we be safe? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She sees that the sannys is the best person to be attacked. rpda Nemi Mahrja: So how can they be saved? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They can be saved only by surrender to r Ka, Guru, and Vaiavas. If sannyss think, There is no one to control me, they will surely land in the lap of my. Those sannyss who always remember Ka, Guru, and Vaiavas will be protected. Vivambhara dsa: rla Gurudeva, for so long you have been asking me which devotees are the top book distributors. Now we have determined the top three book distributors by how many books they have distributed, but we are wondering if that is actually the best way to measure. Is there a way to measure by quality? The only way to practically measure right now is through quantity. But there is some doubt in several devotees minds in this regard; they have expressed some dissatisfaction with this method. So, we are wondering if there is another way to measure for next year. Brajanth dsa: Some devotees are saying that ISKCON leaders used to encourage the number one, two, and three distributors, who, by so many tricks, by hook or by crook distributed books and then left devotional service. Many of the topmost distributors left Ka consciousness and are now completely in my. 218
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: So, be careful. Still, we should give some reward to the best distributors. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: How can they judge who is the top? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By how many books they are distributing; only by this way. Vivambhara dsa: Another question is this: We are inspired to give the top distributor a big recognition a ticket to Krtika but some devotees think that that is too much. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They should decide. A committee will decide. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, yesterday you mentioned that the difference between your brahmacrs and sannyss and those of our rla Prabhupda is that you are training your brahmacrs and sannyss in such a way that they will not fall down in the future. You have trained all the brahmacrs who have been with you for many years, telling them very strictly that they must never give up their brahmacarya, their saffron cloth. One thing to note is that during the time of our Prabhupda, he encouraged brahmacarya, but he did not enforce it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, he did not enforce brahmacarya, because it was the beginning of the Ka consciousness mission in the West.15 rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Yes. He did not enforce it. If they wanted to marry, there was no problem. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: In fact, in the beginning he personally arranged the marriages, because he saw that they were not capable of remaining brahmacrs. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He was very, very intelligent. Somehow he arrested them all. He trained them to make money also. In this way, even if they would give up life in the maha (temple), they would be able to easily maintain their lives. Gokula dsa (from Australia): rla Gurudeva, I have a question. Since the beginning you have encouraged us to form a society in this saga, and now the leaders are doing this. Yesterday there was a big meeting.
219
But some devotees have a doubt regarding the establishment of a society, and I also have a doubt. Those who assume management positions tend to be very strong, pushy, and forceful, especially in Western societies. How can we best avoid a body of controlling leaders? Many are asking this question. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We do not control here. I do not want to control anyone by force. I have love and affection for everyone, and I control everyone by that love and affection. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gokula is saying that if there are managers in the society, then by their natures they will want to control everyone. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. Why would that happen? I always remind the leaders to think that they are servants of the maha. I make them maha commanders to serve all. I tell them not to think, I am the controller; I am the head. I tell them, Dont They should consult with all others think, I am the monarch. before doing anything. Gokula dsa: I see that several institutions, like ISKCON and even rla Gour Govinda Mahrjas institution in Bhubanesvara, are being managed with a mentality of control. Only one institution was not like that, and that was the Gauya Vedanta Samiti lead by you and rla Trivikrama Mahrja and rla Vmana Mahrja. Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, when we first came to Krtika, we saw how everything was managed by you. We saw how there were no management meetings; nothing of the sort. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There was no meeting at all at that time, and still there is no meeting. Everything transpires as if automatically. Brajanth dsa: On the contrary, we (Western devotees) have to sit down from time to time and have meetings. We have to say to everyone at the meeting, You have this job and you have that job, and if you dont do your job, then everything will fail. But there are no meetings in your saga. Everything happens automatically. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No meetings at all. Devotee: rla Gurudeva, when there are properties and money involved, there is always greed. How can we avoid that, and how can we avoid the way we suffered in ISKCON? When rla Prabhupda 220
Badger
was here, nothing like this happened; but after his departure so many leaders began fighting over properties and temples, and kicking out devotees. Ambition and greed tend to come to societies, desiring to destroy them. How can we avoid this? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The members of the controlling committee must be very selfless, surrendered to Guru, Vaiavas, and Ka, and also detached from worldly wealth and desires. I want to make members like this. My may come, but we are trying by this method. Purandara dsa: In the absence of good association, leaders may adopt their old bad habits of trying to be controllers. How can that be avoided? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Some corruption dwelled in Satya-yuga, more so in Dvpara, more in Tret, and still more so in Kali-yuga.16 We are trying, but still it may come, and therefore it is essential that we are careful in that regard. We find that sometimes, if a father has two sons, the sons quarrel and one shoots the other instead of loving him. This is the world; this is why we should chant and remember Ka, and be surrendered to Ka and guru. This is why. Without this, any scheme will fail. Gokula dsa: It always seems that some persons are there to persecute others, and sometimes Im thinking that this is Kas arrangement to teach us to be more tolerant. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, this is not Kas arrange ment. He never likes things like this. He is very merciful and kind. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: This is the arrangement of Kali (the personification of this age of quarrel and hypocrisy). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Those who are selfish are simply cheaters. [To Aniruddha dsa] Dont criticize ISKCON, as you have done. The ISKCON devotees are also my children. Dont speak about them with such anger. Be calm and quiet, and perform bhajana. Dont see anyones faults. See your own faults. Do you understand? Aniruddha dsa: But if we keep a humble attitude
16A yuga is one age within a cycle of four ages, which rotate like calendar months
in the life of a universe. They are named Satya, Tret, Dvpara, and Kali. Each age has consecutively less good qualities, longevity, auspiciousness, etc.
221
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to follow these principles of humility and respect for all. These are not my words. Rather, stra is telling this and Ka is telling this. Whoever criticizes others will see that he has absorbed all the bad qualities he is criticizing. He will see that those bad qualities have entered his own being.
June 23, 2007

Morning Walk
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ask about what you want to hear. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, in other Kali-yugas, when r Caitanya Mahprabhu does not come, do the yuga-avatras (the incarnations for the various Kali-yugas) also come in a golden complexion? Who are they? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Kalki comes, and if needed, other incarnations come. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: But Kalki does not teach nmasakrtana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Never. He only kills demons. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Who teaches the yuga-dharma (the religious practice prescribed for a particular age) in other Kali-yugas? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When r Caitanya Mahprabhu does not come, Viu teaches it. Vndvana dsa: Do those who are killed by Kalki get liberation? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Certainly. This is because Kalki is viu-tattva (a manifestation of Viu, or Ka Himself), not aktyvea (a living entity empowered by the Lord for a specific mission). Pra-govinda dsa: The demon Klanemi was killed by Viu in his past life. Why did he have to come again, to be killed by Ka? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ka is independent. He may come in any form, and He can do as He likes. It has therefore been written, One may be able to count the particles of sand in the universe, or the stars in the sky, but no one can count the transcen dental qualities of Ka. 222
Badger
[In time, learned philosophers or scientists might be able to count all the atoms of the earth, the particles of snow, or perhaps even the shining molecules radiating from the sun, the stars and other luminaries. But among these learned men, who could possibly count the unlimited transcendental qualities possessed by You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who have descended onto the surface of the Earth for the benefit of all living entities?*]
Lord Brahms prayer in rmad-Bhgavatam 10.14.7 jnanta eva jnantu ki bahkty na me prabho manaso vapuo vco vaibhava tava go-cara rmad-Bhgavatam (10.14.38)
[Lord Brahm declared: There are people who say, I know everything about Ka. Let them think that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to speak very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much: As far as Your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body, and words.*]
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, what part of the Eleventh Canto would you like to cover next in your classes here? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will briefly discuss the entire Eleventh Canto. I will especially discuss the instructions of Ka in Uddhava-savda (The conversion between Ka and Uddhava). But I will discuss only the most important parts, like the chapter describing the twenty-four gurus. Ka gave many instructions about vara and rama dharma for ghasthas and renunciants, and other elevated subjects as well. Kamala-knta dsa (from Germany): When will your translations of the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Cantos of the rmad-Bhgavatam be completed? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It will take some time, but work is going on. First we will complete the Tenth Canto, and then gradually the others. Whatever rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja has left for me as his remnants, I must do that. 223
rpda Nemi Mahrja: Will you give your own commentaries on those Cantos? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will give the commentary of rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura, but in some places I will add my mood. Abhirma dsa: In your class last night, you said that in Kali-yuga we are not held responsible for the bad thoughts of the mind. Yet, in one of your purports on Mana-ik, you explain that due to offenses committed by the mind it will take many lifetimes to attain perfection. How do we reconcile this? Are we responsible for offenses committed by the mind? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is he asking? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: You said in your class that if someone in Kali-yuga is thinking of committing a sin, there is no reaction. Conversely, if one thinks of doing something good, one gets benefit from that thought. However, you state in the Mana-ik that if one commits offenses in the mind, he cannot attain ka-prema for many lifetimes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Mana-ik has warned us to be careful. In all other Puras it has been told that if you think bad thoughts, you will not be accountable for those thoughts, but this is referring to sinful thoughts, not to offensive thoughts. Regarding sins, if you think about hurting or killing someone, you will not have to suffer the fruit of having performed that activity. If one commits offenses in the mind, he may manifest that action externally, and that is another reason that stra has warned against it. It is said that one should not imitate r Kas rsa-ll, not even by mind. naitat samcarej jtu manaspi hy anvara vinayaty caran mauhyd yathrudro bdhi-ja viam rmad-Bhgavatam (10.33.30)
[One should never imitate the behavior of great persons. If out of foolishness an ordinary person imitates such behavior (i.e. Kas dancing with the gops), even mentally, he is doomed; just as one who imitates Rudra by swallowing an ocean of poison.]
224
Badger
Although mental sins do not affect us, we should not perform sins even in our mind. If we dwell on such acts, we may end up engaging in them externally. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: Are you saying, then, that we will not get a reaction for mental sin, but we will get some reaction for mental apardha? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Apardha is different; it is very dangerous. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: One of the six types of offenses to a Vaiava is not being happy to see him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: That is an offense committed in the mind, and another offense is being angry upon seeing a Vaiava. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Devotee: Doubt is also a mental state. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Doubt is also bad. aja craddadhna ca saaytm vinayati nya loko sti na paro na sukha saaytmana Bhagavad-gt (4.40)
[But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.*]
Aniruddha dsa: Gurudeva, when the soul achieves the four perfections in the Vaikuha planets, namely slokya, smpya, srpya, and sri (living on the same planet as the Lord, becoming His associate, having a similar form as His, and possessing similar opulences), is there a possibility of receiving a female form? Or, does one only receive a male form there? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To rpda Padmanbha Mahrja] What is the answer?
225
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: I can only guess, rla Gurudeva, because I have never heard this answer. I would say that it is possible for them to get either a male or female form. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It is not that it is possible. It is for sure. Aniruddha dsa: If that is the case, do the males and females in Vaikuha get married and reproduce? A devotee told me that there is transcendental family-life in Vaikuha. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: These are not good questions, and there is no need to think about this. We should discuss what is real, what we see in stra. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: This is described in the Third Canto of rmad-Bhgavatam, when Lord Brahm has a vision of Vaikuha. It is described that the residents of Vaikuha, male and female, ride together on bejewelled airplanes. They sit side by side and are both very beautiful, but there is no mundane lust. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There is no marriage in Goloka Vndvana; Ka and the gops are not married. There is no marriage even in Dvrak-puri in Goloka. Everyone is eternal there, so when will they get married? If there is birth, then gradually there will be childhood and then youth, at which time marriage will take place. But there is no birth or death in Goloka. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, in bhauma-ll (Kas pastimes performed in this material world), the sdhaka jva who reaches perfection has the opportunity to take birth from the womb of a vraja-gop. You are saying that this is not the case in nitya-dhma (Kas pastimes performed in the spiritual world)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is correct. There is no birth or death there; the original age is teen-age. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Yesterday some of us were discussing Bhad-bhgavatmta, and a question came up regarding whether or not there is evidence in stra that the jva has fallen from Goloka or Vaikuha. One devotee said he had asked a scholar in ISKCON, Kuakrata dsa, who has now passed away and who has translated many of the Gosvms books. Kuakratha replied that there is evidence in Bhad-bhgavatmta. He said that when Gopa Kumra arrived in Goloka, Ka received him, saying, O my friend, you were lost for so long. Where were you? Kuakratha cited this as the evidence that the jva left Kas ll and is now returning. 226
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. The author of Bhadbhgavatmta, rla Santana Gosvm, has personally written an explanation to that exchange between Ka and Gopa Kumra. They should read rla Santana Gosvms explanation, not only his translation. Bhagavad-gt, rmad-Bhgavatam, and all other such scriptures are evidence of the fact that the jva does not fall from Vaikuha or Goloka.17 Ka comes to this world from Goloka. His associates also come from Goloka or Vaikuha, and therefore, when they manifest in this world, their birth here is only a play. Any associate of the Lord may come from there and play in that way. It is they who have come from Vaikuha and again have gone back. This does not apply to conditioned souls; it is only for liberated persons. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Seeing Ka, rmat Rdhik may say to Lalit, Who is this boy? I have never seen Him before. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This does not mean that Rdhik never met Ka before, or that Ka was not previously present before Her. rpda Bhgavata Mahrja: rla Prabhupda told his disciples not to try to learn Sanskrit, because if people get a little bit of knowledge in it, they will make mistakes. He said that translation of Sanskrit is not a matter only of intellectual knowledge, but a matter of revelation from the mind of the sdhus. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: His instruction was for ignorant persons, especially for those in Western countries. They would have to do a lot to learn Sanskrit. In India, however, devotees learn Sanskrit from the beginning of their lives. rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura was a scholar from birth, and he is mah-mahmahopadhyya, the topmost learned crya. For such devotees it is not bad to learn Sanskrit. They can do so. Pra-govinda dsa: I was talking with Hdaynanda Mahrja of the GBC a couple of weeks ago. I asked him why he stated that Tulasdev fell down from the spiritual world, since she is an expansion of svarpa-akti, which can never be under my. It would be considered Myvada philosophy to say that she fell.
17 For more information on this subject, one can download rla Nryaa Gosvm
Mahrjas book, Journey of the Soul, from www.purebhakti.com.
227
Hdaynanda Mahrja replied, What are you talking about? rla Prabhupda said I can go outside and find references from different scriptures to use for my own writings. So I did. Then I asked him, Is there any reference of rla Prabhupda or any other crya that will support what you just said? He said, I found it in Brahma-vaivarta Pura, and that is enough for me. Then I replied, Isnt my-akti a shadow potency of svarpa-akti? He replied, I have never heard that word, svarpa-akti. This is why he wrote in the GBC book about the jvas falling from Vaikuha based on that. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Never, never. The jvas have never fallen from Goloka Vndvana. Pra-govinda dsa: But he said he translated that pastime from the original Sanskrit. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Never, never, never [meaning that the understanding was inaccurate]. Nhari dsa: Gurudeva, to confirm what you were saying, it was for the purpose of pastimes that Jalandara and Tulas came from the spiritual world? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. What is the harm in their coming here? They came here to play. After all, Jalandhara is a manifestation of Ka. Jhnav-jvana dsa: rla Gour Govinda Mahrja said that when someone in Kali-yuga takes initiation, that person becomes situated in Satya-yuga (by consciousness). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What he has told is okay, but we will have to think further about this. rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja was a qualified guru who gave some persons sannysa. Later on those sannyss married and left their devotional lives, discarding their tulas-ml, or neck-beads. In that case, how are those sannyss situated in Satya-yuga? Gokula dsa: I think my Guru Mahrjas quote about Satya-yuga is originally from rla Jva Gosvm that if we take dk in Mahprabhus line, we are exempt from any reaction to our bad thoughts. We are effectively in Satya-yuga. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We can reconcile this. Dk is of two kinds: vidvad-rh (with realization) and avidvad-rh 228
Badger
(formality). If the dk initiation is not vidvad-rh, it is not dk in the true sense. Having received real dk, the devotee realizes his relationship with Ka, at which time all of his offenses and anarthas disappear. In Kali-yuga, such real dk is very rare. We therefore see that even though one has participated in the official dk ceremony and has received the dk mantras, if he is not realized and all of his offenses have not gone, then his dk is not true (vidvad-rh). Rather, such a person has merely entered the school of dk, and he may still engage in nonsense activities or mentalities. However, those who have received vidvad-rh dk will never fall, and nothing unfavorable to bhakti will even enter their minds. They quickly progress. Gokula dsa: rpda Dmodara Mahrja was giving class yesterday, about caitanya-ll. He said that between Caitanya-bhgavata and Caitanya-caritmta, Caitanya-caritmta is more sweet. Caitanyabhgavata contains more awe and reverence. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, you are telling the opposite of reality. rla Kadsa Kavirja Gosvm has written, r Vndvana dsa hkura is Vysadeva. He has written r Caitanyabhgavata, the sweet pastimes of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, and I am taking some remnant to write Caitanya-caritmta. Caitanyabhgavata does not include much philosophy (siddhnta). Relatively speaking, rla Vndvana dsa hkura has not given importance to siddhnta, whereas Kadsa Kavirja Gosvm has emphasized it. Gokula dsa: So, in the Navadvpa pastimes described in r Caitanyabhgavata, there is more sweetness? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, because there is only ll. As discussed in r Caitanya-caritmta, there is more siddhnta in Mahprabhus Pur pastimes, and still more siddhnta in His pastimes on the bank of the Godvar. Giridhr dsa: Caitanya-bhgavata describes how r Caitanya Mahprabhu went to Gay and offered pia18 for His father, and then came back to Navadvpa. After that, in total, how many years did He perform sakrtana in Navadvpa before taking sannysa?
18 rddha is a ceremony in honor of and for the benefit of deceased relatives, in which the forefathers are offered pia. Generally, pia is an offering of small balls of rice cooked in milk with black sesame, ghee, and honey. The offering is made to the deceased and his forefathers, in order for the deceased to attain a body suitable for enjoyment in Pitloka.
229
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is not written in stra, but you may know that He performed navadvpa-ll until the age of twenty-four. After His birth He could only perform His baby and childhood pastimes (blya-ll), and then He performed His preyouth (paugaa-ll) pastimes. After that He went to Gay, and when He returned, in the gap, before taking sannysa, He performed sakrtana. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: rla Vndvana dsa hkura did not mention Mahprabhus exact age when performing these activities. Giridhr dsa: Some people said that He performed sakrtana for eleven months, and others are saying it was for three years. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the use of thinking about this? Is there any use? Why are you bothering your mind with this? Devotee: It is common practice that devotees take the ashes of other devotees dead bodies to the Ganges or to Vndvana. What is the connection between the soul and the ashes? What is the souls benefit if the ashes of his rejected body are thrown into the Ganges? Will this do any good to the soul? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He benefits. It is mentioned in rmadBhgavatam that Indra thought, Sagara Mahrja is performing austerities for the purpose of taking my throne and heavenly kingdom, so I must destroy him. Indra thus stole his horse that was meant for offering at an avamedha-yaja (horse sacrifice19) and hid it in Kapila Munis rama. The sons of Sagara Mahrja searched everywhere for that horse and finally found it there. They accused Kapila Muni, and in return they were cursed by him to burn to ashes. Then, after thousands of years, their descendents sprinkled some water of the Ganges upon their ashes and they were liberated. Ganges is the foot-bathing water of Lord Vmanadeva. One can get so much benefit from her touch, even after thousands of years. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Also, previously, the souls of the dead persons who are not liberated identified with their bodies. Therefore, even though their bodies become ashes when cremated, those persons are somehow connected with their bodies that are
19 Avamedha-yaja is a horse-sacrifice of antiquity in which vast wealth is spent. Formerly the brhmaas were so highly qualified by purity and in the skill of chanting mantras that the life of the animal would be rejuvenated. By performing one hundred such sacrifices one could attain the post of Indra. This sacrifice is forbidden in the age of Kali as there are no qualified brhmaas to perform it properly.
230
Badger
now in the form of ashes. This is another reason that there is so much benefit. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: In order to progress from pravtti-mrga (the path of materialism) to nivtti-mrga (the path of freedom from materialism), one should follow Vedic and Tantric rules and regulations. Can you please say something about vaiava-tantra? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vaiava-tantra refers to scriptures like Nrada-pacartra, Gautamya-tantra, and Pararatantra. The sages Nrada, Gautama, Parara, etc. have written these scriptures, just as rla Vysadeva wrote rmad-Bhgavatam. These scriptures explain the regulations for devotional activities like taking dk and performing arcana of the Deities. Vedic refers to scriptures like the Upaniads, which gives training in good habits that free one from the materialistic way of life; and tntrika especially refers to training in the rules and regulations of activities like dk and arcana. Our Gosvms have said to follow both. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: The Rdh-Kp-Kaka-Stava-Rja is from a tantra. These are prayers to rmat Rdhik from Lord iva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I doubt that it was akara who originally prayed this stotra (hymn, or prayer), which is coming from ancient times. I think that Nrada may have uttered it. [At other times rla Mahrja said that rla Rpa Gosvm is the author.] Arisana dsa: What is the definition of tantra? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Tantra means jna, or knowl edge. There are five kinds of knowledge, and that is called pacartra. 20 Nrada Rtra also means knowledge and paca means five. taught the five kinds of knowledge in his Nrada-pacartra. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: The paths of pravtti-mrga and nivtti-mrga are both described in the Vedas. Some devotees are thinking, I cannot come to nivtti-mrga unless I first follow pravtti-mrga. I must first try to satisfy my material desires. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Persons who think this way are foolish and ignorant. They have already tasted all of these things in their past hundreds of thousands of lives in different species; not only in this human species. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: They have already tried to enjoy?
231
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, so there is no need to pursue it relentlessly. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Prabhupda Sarasvati hkura had so many disciples who took the renounced order from him. According to the Vedas, one should progress through the ramas of brahmacarya, ghastha, vnaprastha, and sannysa. But Prabhupdas disciples did not go through all those stages. They took sannysa from him when they were still in the brahmacr-rama. Is this proper or not? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: One can take sannysa from the brahmacr-rama. There is no need of first becoming a ghastha or a vnaprastha. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: There is another question that comes in many devotees minds. They think, I am from a Western country, with so many bad saskras (impressions on the heart) from my life prior to coming to Vaiava life. I must act according to those saskras. I have so many material desires. Therefore, if I try to take brahmcarya or sannysa now, this will be artificial and I will fall down because I have not fulfilled my desires. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is also not a good idea to nurture. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Jagi and Mdhi had so many bad impressions on their hearts. Do these devotees have more bad impressions than Jagi and Mdhi? If Jagi and Mdhi were able to benefit so much by their surrender and by Mahprabhus grace, why not the Westerners? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Miracles are performed by sdhusaga. Those persons only want to enjoy. They do not know that we are eternal servants of Ka and that there is no happiness here in the material world. They are ignorant, and therefore their opinion has no value.
June 24, 2007

Morning Walk
Balarma dsa: Can I ask you a question, Gurudeva? Tomorrow is nirjala Ekda (to be observed by full fasting, even from water). If 232
Badger
there were any defects in our following Ekdas during the year, how can we properly observe this nirjala Ekda? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We should try to follow all Ekdas. If there was a defect in your observance of any previous Ekdas, simply continue practicing. By chanting nma, everything will be okay. Balarma dsa: Should one clean ones teeth on nirjala Ekda? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why not? Should you not take bath? Balarma dsa: Bath is not drunk. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But somehow the water is entering your body. Of course, you must bathe, but do not take caramta on that day; simply offer prama to the caramta. Balarma dsa: What about camana? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Just touch the water to your lips. Vndvana dsa: When you do camana, the water is supposed to go to your heart. It says in the Hari-bhakti-vilsa that the proper way to do camana is like this (demonstrates) like a chicken. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have not seen this in any scripture. Vndvana dsa: It also says that when you take camana, it has to come into the body and purify the heart. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can take camana in that way on other days, but not on Ekda. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Actually, if we have somehow or other not observed other Ekdas, will observing nirjala Ekda compensate? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have just answered this. You can compensate only by harinma not by properly following nirjala Ekda. You will have to follow every Ekda. Only for Bhma was a concession given, only for him. Vndvana dsa: We always understood that if someone does not observe the other Ekdas throughout the year, if he very strictly follows Pava nirjala Ekda, then he wont get a bad reaction for not following all of the other Ekdas. Is this not true? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It is not true at all. 233
Vndvana dsa: No, but we always thought this. Everyone thought this. Nhari dsa: It is also stated in Ka-Balarma Svms book the book you told us not to read. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are all wrong. ISKCON [the disciples of rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja, but not rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja personally] has discovered this. Vndvana dsa: They are doing this because of Bhma. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are not Bhma. From ancient times up to the time of the six Gosvms, like r Rpa and r Santana Gosvm, devotees used to observe all Ekdas as nirjala Ekda, without taking even water. Ambara Mahrja observed each Ekda for three days: on the first day he controlled his eating; on the second day he avoided eating and drinking (nirjala); and on the third day he ate only once. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: The Pavas used to regularly observe nirjala Ekda, but Bhma once told Ka, It is not possible for me to do nirjala every time. Ka replied, On other Ekdas you can take fruits and roots, but you must follow nirjala on this one day. Bhisma was thus permitted to observe nirjala on this day alone, but he had to observe all the other Ekdas. This day is therefore called Pava nirjala Ekda. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In India, every Ekda is generally observed without food or water. Pjyapda rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja saw that the Western devotees were somewhat weak, so he introduced a concession for them. He said that they could take aukalpa (eating a little, just to maintain ones life) three times in the day. However, instead of following aukalpa, they took bhat-kalpa, eating and drinking as much as they could take. Do you understand? This is not good. Brajanth dsa: They say that if they do not eat sufficiently, they would not have any strength or power. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Bogus; that was the argument of Mohin21.
21 Mohin was the enchanting and alluring female creation of Brahm who tested King Citrga, a determined follower of Ekda.
234
Badger
Devotee: Gurudeva, rla Prabhupda said that Ka will fulfill a devotees desire for preaching only as much as that devotee desires. How can we increase our desire for preaching? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can do so by following our parampar. r Nrada, rla Vysadeva, rla ukadeva Gosvm, the six Gosvms, r Caitanya Mahprabhu, and all of Mahprabhus followers have personally performed bhajana: yre dekha, tre kaha ka-upadea mra jya guru ha tra ei dea r Caitanya-caritmta (Madhya-ll 7.128)
[Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord r Ka as they are given in the Bhagavad-gt and rmadBhgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.*]
This means that you must first become qualified, and then you can teach and preach. If you are not personally following, and you are not realizing anything, then what can you preach? By first knowing all siddhnta, all philosophical conclusions, your preaching will be successful. We should think, Preaching is also a bhajana, so we must preach. Preaching means to help others. In Bhagavad-gt, r Ka told Arjuna, Do not explain these truths to those who are selfish, or to bad persons. Explain these truths only to those who have a little faith.22 In the Bhgavatam, Ka told Uddhava [in Uddhavasavda], What I am telling to you, do not tell it to those who do 23 not have strong faith. rla Santana Gosvm has also written this in his Bhad-Bhgavatmta, and rla Jva Gosvm has written this in his a-sandarbha: Those who have no raddh, or faith, should not read my book. We can read and hear if we have faith. If we think that we will have enormous transcendental gain from such reading or hearing, this means we have raddh.
22 This confidential knowledge may never be explained to those who are not
austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me (Bhagavad-gt 18.67).
23 You should not share this instruction with anyone who is hypocritical, atheistic or dishonest, or with anyone who will not listen faithfully, who is not a devotee, or who is simply not humble * (rmad-Bhgavatam 11.29.30).
235
Prana-govinda dsa: It is seen that Dhtarra does not have very much raddh, but Sajaya still tells him what is happening on the battlefield of Kuruketra. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: r Ka allowed that, and at last Vidura inspired Dhtarra to go to the forest, giving up every thing. Vidura took him to Haridvra, where his body burned to ashes. Sajaya had told Dhtarra that, through himself, Vysadeva allowed Dhtarra to see the events taking place on the battle field. This is because Vysadeva considered, Dhtarra is a blind person. One day his eyes should open. He should see that all of his sons whom he loved so much and had shown partiality in the tension between the Pavas and Kauravas have died. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Dhtarra wanted to see the Mahbhrata battle, and therefore Vysadeva was going to give him the transcendental vision to see it. But then Dhtarra said, I will not be able to recognize anyone in the battle, because I have never seen them. It is better that Sajaya be able to see what is happening, and he can then narrate everything to me. And Vysadeva did just that. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: (To Yaodnanda dsa) It is for this that I am attracting you. Yaodnanda dsa: I feel very attracted, rla Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Somehow you are very lucky; your everything is engaged in Kas service. Madhuvrata dsa: rla Gurudeva, you mentioned to Giri Mahrja on the morning walk that preachers have five symptoms. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I told him, Why have you shaved your face? No other brahmacr or sannys has done this. He said that he shaved for preaching. Then I said, We have not shaven, but who is preaching more you or us? He admitted, You and all other sannyss are preaching more than I am. Then I said, If you shave in the future, I will reject you. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Then you told him some symptoms of a preacher. You said that the number of disciples will increase, and money will come [meaning the results of peoples energy will be offered in Kas service]. 236
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If one is preaching, but those to whom he is preaching are not inspired to take shelter of guru and initiation, then his preaching is like zero. Also, money will follow him. Vaiavas do not want money, but still it will come. The success of ones preaching depends on how much he inspires others to take harinma and thus make their lives successful. That person is doing a high class of preaching. I asked him, What have you done? Nothing. I told him, You preach, but no one is coming to take harinma, so what is your preaching? How much money have you given to me? He said, Nothing. So why are you preaching, and why have you shaved? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Some devotees think that there is no need for them to preach yet, because they are not yet advanced. They think, First we will read and chant. Then, when we become advanced, then we will preach. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They should enjoy the world, and then return to the world. They should take birth after birth, and they should suffer the pain of life and death. rpda Nemi Mahrja: I see that you dont accept their idea. Yaodnanda dsa: rla Gurudeva, how can we help fulfill rla Bhaktivinoda hkuras mission to make Ka consciousness the worldwide religion? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We are doing this. rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura did this, and after him, rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja preached everywhere. Then, what ever rla Svm Mahrja left for me as his remnants, I am taking and continuing his mission. Devotee: Gurudeva, one of rla Prabhupdas disciples, Jayapatk Svm, claims to have about 60,000 disciples. Do we consider this to be a symptom of successful preaching? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He himself does not chant, and he is not established in bhakti. What to speak of him? In India there is a person named Asaram Bapu, and he gives dk by phone to thousands of people at a time. He has more disciples than Jayapatk Svm. Do you know Kplu Mahrja? He is now is jail. He has millions of disciples. 237
Aniruddha dsa: Our rla Prabhupda wanted a planetarium to be constructed in Mypura, and now the GBC has pledged to construct it at the cost of about sixty million dollars. They are doing this mostly in order to gather all of the Prabhupda disciples together, because they are seeing that many devotees are fleeing ISKCON and coming to you. Do you think we should support this project? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why are you thinking about them? What is the use? Dont think about them. Aniruddha dsa: But you said that successful preaching means followers and money. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: So follow me. Follow rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja and rla Rpa Gosvm. Why follow them, and why always think about them? If you think about them, their bad qualities may come to you. What is the teaching in the story we told about the female pigeon and male pigeon? Devotee: The human form of life is our chance to take up Ka consciousness. It is not possible in any other form of life; only in the human form. Sofor the short flickering time, soI forgot. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want to hear the story of the he pigeon and she pigeon. I want Mahibharata prabhu to explain it. What is the teaching behind this story? Mahibharata dsa: The teaching behind this story is that one should not become attached to ones wife and family and not to even take a wife and family. Simply follow r gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The male pigeon was very attached to his wife, and he considered that he could not survive without her. Children also came, and then he became still more attached. Death was waiting for him, but he could not see it. What became of them? Due to their love for each other, both were killed by the hunter. So, if you are attached to ladies, your bhakti will be spoiled. You will be worse than dead. Death is not bad. Worse than death, you will undergo spiritual death, meaning diversion from bhakti. Always think about this. If you are telling this story and not realizing it, and instead marrying again and again and maintaining a sense of strong relations with children and wives, then your bhakti comes to nothing. 238
Badger
Devotee: (inaudible) rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: He is saying that although sannysa, or renunciation, is encouraged, in practical life we see that householders are more steady. They remain in household life and... rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Your realization is zero. We follow the realization of high-class bhaktas. Because you are a conditioned soul, what you tell may be wrong. Nirgua dsa: Last night I read that the self-realized souls find it quite hilarious that the conditioned souls want to marry, because in actuality we are all female. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I also say this. They are not realizing that they are both female. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: We see many cases of god-brothers, older devotees, who have been married once or twice, are now reaching the age of fifty or fifty-five. They say that they must again have a partner. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Be careful. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: They say that they want to have a companion. They dont want to have the sex life or children, but they want a companion. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are speaking lies. They have so much lust and other contaminations. Why do they not want guru companions or high-class Vaiava companions? Gokula dsa: Gurudeva, I am dying. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why? Gokula dsa: It is natural that I am attached to my wife, because I am a conditioned soul. I cannot stop this. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You may remain with your wife, no harm. But dont be attached. Moreover, regarding those who are not married, they should be careful. Gokula dsa: But this attachment is natural because I am conditioned. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is not natural. We have seen that Mahrja Janaka, rvsa Paita, and others like them remain with their entire families, but they are not attached. They support 239
their families out of a sense of duty, and they dont consider, We cannot survive without our wives. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Many of rla Prabhupdas disciples have been following you for some years, and they feel so much help and inspiration from your association. We want everyone to have a chance to hear what they are feeling, so we want to record them speaking about their spiritual life how they have been helped by you in their relationship with our rla Prabhupda as well as with you. Is this good? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is good. Dhra-ka dsa: Was there any formal dk initiation in Satyayuga? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why not? Brahm took initiation from Ka, and Nrada took initiation from Brahm. Dhra-ka dsa: That was bhagavati-dk. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Somehow they gave dk, as Vysadeva took dk from Nrada. First of all, you must know the meaning of dk. Dhra-ka dsa: Divya jna yato dadyt.24 rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Does dk refer only to that mantra? What do you understand by the word dk? Dhra-ka dsa: They will learn their relationship with r Ka. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Did they realize their relationship with Ka? Dhra-ka dsa: Yes.
24 This is the first line of the definition loka of dk. This verse was quoted by rla Santana Gosvm in Hari-bhakti-vilsa (2.9), and later expanded upon by rla Jva Gosvm in Bhakti-sandarbha (283):
divya jna yato dadyt kuryt ppasya sakayam tasmt dketi s prokt deikais tattva-kovidai That spiritual undertaking which awakens divya-jna (transcendental knowledge) and destroys all sinful reactions at the root is called dk by authorities learned in the Absolute Truth.
240
Badger
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is dk. If they dont realize their relationship via the mantras, they have not actually received dk. It is about vidvad-rh and avidvad-rh.25 Do you under stand? Brajanth dsa: Yes. Real dk occurs when we have taken complete shelter of sdhu-saga and sad-guru, and when we receive nourish ment from them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The devotee has realization; this is dk. Dk is not completed by only giving the mantra. Brahm received kma-gyatr initiation by hearing the sound of r Kas flute. Vndvana dsa: rla Gurudeva, does it mean, then, that unless we have realization of our svarpa, our siddha-deha, we have not completed the dk process? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We should know all tattvas, established truths, and be situated in those tattvas. We should know our relationship with Ka and our duty towards Him; we should be established in that. This is real dk. By avidvad-rh dk you are only entering in the course of dk. If a young boy is admitted in a school, he is a student, and a PhD is also a student, but there is so much difference between the two. Similarly, avidvad-rh dk is also dk, but it is the entrance, and the other is real dk. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, I have a question regarding rgnuga-bhakti. r Caitanya-caritmta (di-ll 4.15) says rga-mrga bhakti loke karite pracraa, meaning that r Caitanya Mahprabhu came to preach rga-mrga bhakti. You have also said many times that Mahprabhu did not come to preach vaidh-bhakti. Vaidh-bhakti has already been preached by other cryas in other ages. Mahprabhu has come to give rga-mrga bhakti, and all of our cryas in the line of rla Rpa Gosvm are trying to give it. When a guru is teaching vaidh-bhakti to the beginner student, as Rpa Gosvm taught it, is there a difference between that vaidhbhakti which that rpnuga-crya is preaching and the vaidhbhakti which was previously followed and preached?
241
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The vaidh-bhakti preached by Rmnujcrya, Nimbditya, and Madhvcrya is different from the vaidh-bhakti preached by Mahprabhu and rla Rpa Gosvm. If one follows the principles of vaidh-bhakti as taught by r Caitanya Mahprabhu, that devotee is in the beginning stage of rgnugabhakti. If one hears from r Caitanya-caritmta Santana-ik, Rpa-ik, and Rya Rmnanda Savda his vaidh-bhakti will turn into rgnuga-bhakti. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: You have told us that actual rgnuga-sdhana-bhakti can only be done in the stage of at least sakti26. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When you have a real desire for perfection real, not artificial then to follow bhakti means that sakti has come. Giridhari dsa: rla Gurudeva, is the harinma-guru considered to be the mantra-guru? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He is guru. Also, if that guru is qualified but he has passed away from this world and his disciple took only harinma from him, then the disciple will take dk from a guru who is equal to that harinma-guru. The dk-guru should be equal to the bona fide harinma-guru, and in the same line.
ENDNOTES
An excerpt from rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas book Pinnacle of Devotion, from the section called The Glories of Sdhu-saga: There are two kinds of disciples, and therefore there are two kinds of dk initiation anuhnik and vidvad-rh. Anuhnik refers to the external formality of a fire yaja (fire sacrifice) and the giving of dk (gyatr) mantras. If one thinks, I have sacrificed so much, my head is shaven, and I have received my mantras; I am therefore initiated, this is external. Of course, formal initiation is essential, but it is not complete without vidvad-rh.
26 sakti is deep attachment for the Lord and His eternal associates. sakti occurs 1
when ones liking for bhajana leads to a direct attachment for the person who is the object of that bhajana. This is the seventh stage in the development of the creeper of devotion, and it is awakened upon the maturing of ones taste for bhajana.
242
Badger
Vidvad-rh refers to an internal initiation wherein the disciple completely gives his heart at his gurus lotus feet, knowing that his guru will make him qualified to serve r r Rdh and Ka. Gurudeva gives all kinds of divya-jna, transcendental knowledge, about ka-tattva, guru-tattva, vaiava-tattva, and prema-tattva. So, we are trying to follow Santana Gosvm by dkvidhnena, by initiating persons from anywhere. It does not matter what is a persons background (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Lecture in Vndvana, India, October 27, 1972). So, this morning we are having an initiation ceremony for some devotees. The initiation means beginning. The Sanskrit name is dk (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Initiation lecture in Hyderabad, India, August 22, 1976). After association, the next stage is regulated life for following the Ka consciousness movement. This is called initiation This is called dk (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Initiation ceremony lecture in Montreal, Canada, July 29, 1968). As rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja said that Brahm and his associates attain the spiritual world only if they are perfect in Ka consciousness, rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja also wrote that in the reference referred to in the text: Bhagavad-gt 8.16
From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.*
3 2
Purport (by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja) All kinds of yogs karma, jna, haha, etc. eventually have to attain devotional perfection in bhakti-yoga, or Ka consciousness, before they can go to Kas transcendental abode and never return. Those who attain the highest material planets, the planets of the demigods, are again subjected to repeated birth and death. As persons on Earth are elevated to higher planets, people on higher planets such as Brahmaloka, Candraloka, and Indraloka fall down to 243
earth. The practice of sacrifice called pacgni-vidy, recommended in the Chndogya Upaniad, enables one to achieve Brahmaloka, but if on Brahmaloka one does not cultivate Ka consciousness, then he must return to Earth. Those who progress in Ka consciousness on the higher planets are gradually elevated to higher and higher planets and at the time of universal devastation are transferred to the eternal spiritual kingdom. Baladeva Vidybhana, in his commentary on Bhagavad-gt, quotes this verse: brahma saha te sarve samprpte pratisacare parasynte kttmna pravianti para padam
When there is devastation of this material universe, Brahm and his devotees who are constantly engaged in Ka consciousness are all transferred to the spiritual universe and to specific spiritual planets according to their desires.
4
When the interaction of the three modes of material nature begins, Brahm, who is the creator of this cosmic manifestation and who is full of Vedic knowledge, and the great sages, who are the authors of the spiritual path and the yoga system, come back under the influence of the time factor. They are liberated by their nonfruitive activities and they attain the first incarnation of the purua (Kraodakay Viu), but at the time of creation they come back in exactly the same forms and positions as they had previously.*
rmad-Bhgavatam 3.32.1215
Purport (by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja) Sometimes Brahm thinks that he is independent of the Supreme Lord, and the worshiper also thinks that Brahm is independent. For this reason, after the destruction of this material world, when there is again creation by the interaction of the material modes of nature, Brahm comes back. Although Brahm reaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the first purua incarnation, Mah-Viu, who is full with transcendental qualities, he cannot stay in the spiritual world. 244
Badger
5
In the following excerpt, rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja again confirms rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas statement that Brahm and his associates go to the spiritual world only if they are perfect in Ka consciousness. We again and again see that it is supremely beneficial for us to understand the teachings of rla Prabhupda under the guidance of rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Purport to rmad-Bhgavatam 6.1.1 (by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja) Bhakti-yoga itself is so powerful that even an impious man with no assets in karma-yoga or an illiterate with no assets in jna-yoga can undoubtedly be elevated to the spiritual world if he simply adheres to bhakti-yoga. Ka says in Bhagavad-gt (8.7) that by the process of bhakti-yoga one undoubtedly goes back to Godhead, back home to the spiritual world. Yogis, however, instead of going directly to the spiritual world, sometimes want to see other planetary systems, and therefore they ascend to the planetary system where Lord Brahm lives, as indicated here by the word brhmaa. At the time of dissolution, Lord Brahm, along with all the inhabitants of Brahmaloka, goes directly to the spiritual world. This is confirmed in the Vedas as follows: brahma saha te sarve samprpte pratisacare parasynte kttmna pravianti para padam
Because of their exalted position, those who are on Brahmaloka at the time of dissolution go directly back home, back to Godhead, along with Lord Brahm.
Excerpts from The Hidden Path of Devotion, Chapter 3:
Which limbs are practiced in rgnuga-bhakti? Which are essential and which are disregarded? To answer this, rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura has described five categories of devotional practices for a person with genuine greed: (1) Abha-bhva-may: absorption in ones siddha-bhva the mood of a manjar. (2) Abha-bhva-sambandh: those practices related to ones cherished mood. Such practices surely deliver the desired goal. 245
(3) Abha-bhva-anukla: those practices which are favourable to ones cherished mood. (4) Abha-bhva-aviruddha: those practices which are neutral, neither favorable nor opposed to ones desired mood. (5) Abha-bhva-viruddha: those practices which are detri mental to the attainment of ones desired mood. First is abha-bhva-may, and then bhva-sambandh. The practices of bhva-sambandh are superior to those of nimittakraa, which are bhva-anukla. The bhva-sambandh practices are the mla-kraa, the main cause, in the development of abhabhva-may. Ekda, Janmam etc. are secondary. The injunction that Ekda is secondary is for a person who gives stress to Ekda, Janmam, and Rma-navam, but who is not hearing harikath, chanting, and remembering Ka. What is the harm in neglecting Ekda? For one who has greed and is so engaged in bhva-may or bhva-sambandh that he is unaware of his external surroundings, there is no harm. Vadsa Bbj Mahrja is an example of this. He was observing Ekda for three or four days, on Aam (the eighth lunar day) and Navam (the ninth lunar day). Then, on Ekda, the eleventh lunar day, he was completely unaware of the day due to being absorbed in internal consciousness. Similarly, rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm would be internally absorbed in remembering his services in the pastimes of Rdh and Ka for many days, and Ekda would pass by at that time. Because these two mah-bhgavatas (topmost selfrealized devotees) were performing rgnuga-bhajana, there was no harm in their missing Ekda. However, if one misses Ekda when one is externally conscious, this would be very harmful for his bhakti. First I explained abha-bhva-may, which may be in a ripe or unripe stage. In the stage of sdhana it is the absorption in ones internal identity as a gop while still having a material body, and in the siddha stage one actually becomes a gop. In both cases, it is abha-bhva-may. Next is bhva-sambandh updna-kraa. These are activities that must be performed, like hearing and remembering. These practices must not be neglected for any reason. Regarding nimitta-kraa practices, if we cannot follow them under certain circumstances, it is not harmful. Therefore, they are considered secondary. Observing the vow of Krtika may fall in the category of either updna-kraa or nimitta-kraa. When it is followed simply in 246
Badger
accordance with the rules of renunciation such as avoiding certain foods and activities, then it is in the category of nimitta-kraa. When it is followed in accordance with the principles of hearing and chanting the names and glories of rmat Rdhik and r Ka, then it is in the category of updna-kraa and is bhvasambandh. If austerities are observed during the month of Krtika, that is good, but ravaam and krtanam during Krtika must not be neglected. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Applying gop-candanatilaka and nma-mudr (stamping the names of Ka on ones body), which are nimitta-kraa, are in the category of bhva-anukla, which is the third of the five limbs of rgnuga-bhakti. First is bhva-may, second is bhva-sambandh, and third is bhva-anukla. Anukla means favorable. Practices in the category of bhva-anukla begin with worship of Tulas-dev by offering her obeisances, watering her, and doing parikram (circumambulating her). These practices are favorable, and should therefore be performed. Other practices include the worship of cows, Dhtr (Myrobalan) trees, Avattha (Banyan) trees, and offering respect to brhmaas. Do you understand? These are among the sixty-four varieties of bhakti listed in Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu and are somewhat favorable and beneficial. We follow the instructions of rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm in his r Mana-ik: Sujane bhsura-gae honoring even brhmaas who are not single-pointed in worship of Ka, and who may be engaged in demigod worship. At the same time, if a rgnuga Vaiava has no time for these practices there is no harm, because they are nimitta-kraa. So, all of these are bhvaanukla; they are favorable. Do you understand? Tamla-ka Mahrja: Favorable, but not essential. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, not essential. Next is bhva-aviruddha not unfavorable and not favorable. rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura has said that for the rgnuga-bhakta, although ravaam, krtanam, and smaraam are superior, the management needed for arranging the krtana is not less important. Tamla-ka Mahrja: Does management come in the category of bhva-aviruddha? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: To understand, let us take this example. You are preaching, managing, and holding meetings; you 247
are going here and there in order to promote nma-sakrtana. There is no alternative you must perform these duties. At the same time, it is essential to internally maintain a certain mood while engaging in these activities. When that mood is present, there is no harm in executing these activities, as they are favorable for rgnuga-bhakti. The fifth category for rgnuga-sdhakas is bhva-viruddha. The activities to be rejected are: Ahagrahopsan (considering oneself to be non-different from the object of worship); karanysa (assigning the syllables of the mantra to the fingers); mudrs (various procedures of intertwining the fingers during worship); and dvrak- and mahi-dhyna (meditation on Kas Dvrak pastimes and worship of His queens). The previously mentioned practices, those in the category of bhva-aviruddha, may be helpful, but these are directly harmful and should be rejected. One should respect all the limbs of bhakti, beginning with ravaa krtana viu-smaraa, but among all the limbs, smaraam, meditation on Ka, is the goal. sakti (attachment) is of two kinds: sakti for the limbs of sdhana (devotional practices leading to the goal), and sakti for Ka and His associates. Both are good, but in later development, sakti in ravaam, krtanam, and all such practices of sdhana-bhakti will transform into sakti for remembering Ka and His associates. In this way, sakti begins as bhva-anukla (activities that are favorable for rgnuga-bhakti) and later on becomes bhva-may (complete absorption in ones cherished mood).
7 Excerpts from rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Germany, July 8, 2007:
Nowadays, especially in European countries and in Russia, devotees think they are very rasika. They want rasa (the taste of spiritual mellows). They want to go up to the top of the tree of prema at once. They only want mdankhya-bhva (the highest ecstatic devotional love, situated only in rmat Rdhik). They do not want to follow vaidh-bhakti. They dont like vaidh-bhakti. This idea is very dangerous, so be very careful about this. Those who have these ideas are nonsense sahajiy-vaiavas. When one has no rga (attachment to Ka and absorption in His service), one may read from the scriptures that he should
248
Badger
engage in bhakti to Ka, and if he does not do this, he must go to hell. If one thus engages his mind in bhakti by this fear, his activity is called vaidh-bhakti. What is rga? What is the meaning of rga? Rga refers to the love for Ka that is present in the residents of Goloka Vndvana in Subala and rdm, in Nanda Bb and Yaod-maiy, and especially in Lalit, Vikh, and rmat Rdhik. Rga means spontaneous attachment to r Ka. It is the love by which the Vrajavss serve Ka and control Him. This is rga, and the person who has this rga is called rgtmik. One may develop greed to follow these rgtmik associates of r Ka by hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from a bona fide guru or Vaiava, and then desiring to serve Ka like Subala, rdm, and Madhumagala, or like Mother Yaod. We should know all these truths. stroktay prabalay tat-tan-marydaynvit vaidh bhaktir iya kaicin maryd-mrga ucyate Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu (1.2.269)
[Devotional service governed by the rules and regulations of the scriptures is also called maryda-mrga, or the reverential path of devotion, the path of serving the Lord in opulence, by different scholars (such as Vallabhcrya).]
rla Vallabhcrya has explained about devotional etiquette and regulations (maryda). rmad-Bhgavatam gives us this instruction: ravaam (hearing), krtanam (chanting), smaraam (remembering), pda-sevanam (serving the lotus feet), arcanam (worshiping), vandanam (praying), dsyam (becoming a servant), sakhyam (becoming a friend), tma-nivedanam (surrendering everything), constitute the nine limbs of vaidh-bhakti. There are also five limbs of bhakti that are most important: sdhu-saga (association with devotees), bhgavata-ravaa (hearing rmad-Bhgavatam), mathur-vsa (living in Mathur), nmakrtana (chanting the holy name), and r-mrtira raddhya sevana (worshiping the deity with faith and veneration). If we follow these without offense, we will attain prema-bhakti (pure transcendental love of r Ka) very soon. Simply telling others, I have greed, will not do. If one says, I dont want to do any vaidh-bhakti. There is no need to follow vaidhbhakti, this is against stra.
249
ruti-smti-purdi-pacartra-vidhi vin aikntik harer bhaktir utptyaiva kalpate Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu (1.2.101)

[Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upaniads, Puras, Nradapacartra, etc., is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.]
Those who dont follow the rules and regulations of bhakti are completely independent and whimsical. They dont want to follow. They dont want to accept any inconveniences or suffering in the execution of vaidh-bhakti. They want to jump at once to the top of the tree of bhakti. They want only rdh-dsyam and majar-bhva (direct, personal service to rmat Rdhik in the secluded grove). rla Rpa Gosvm has stated (from the rutis and Smti stras) that there are sixty-four limbs of bhakti, and the first ten limbs are especially important. First comes guru-padraya. One must first accept harinma initiation, and then dk-mantra initiation. One must learn how to do bhakti, and learn what is bhakti, what is not bhakti, what is sakma-bhakti (the performance of bhakti for the purpose of satisfying material desires), nikmabhakti (the performance of bhakti without desires for material results), nirgua-bhakti (devotion that is unaffected by the qualities of material nature), uttama-bhakti (pure devotional service), ropa-siddha-bhakti (activities which are not pure bhakti, but are designated as bhakti due to their being offered to the Supreme Lord), saga-siddha-bhakti (endeavors that are associated with, or favorable to the development of bhakti but are not of themselves purely composed of bhakti), svarpa-siddha-bhakti (endeavors that are purely constituted of devotional service). Aspiring devotees should know all these truths; otherwise they will perform bhakti which is actually not bhakti. Those who dont want to follow these principles are stupid and nonsense. rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja used these words; I am simply repeating his words. So be very careful. Always be careful in this regard. The people who deny the importance of observing the principles of vaidh-bhakti do not want to follow, but you must first follow vaidh-bhakti. If you read r Caitanya-caritmta under the guidance of a rasika Vaiava, your vaidh-bhakti will automatically turn into rgnuga-bhakti. This is the process. 250
Badger
An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Kijkduin, Holland, on July 12, 2005: Some people think that dras and women are very low. This is actually a wrong idea a very wrong idea. You should know you are neither male nor female. The soul is transcendental, a servant of Lord r Ka, but we have now accepted a female or male form. It is not that the intelligence is low in ladies and high in men. It is also not true that black people are necessarily dras. Who are dras? Those who eat cow-flesh and drink alcohol, and those who cheat others. dras are those engaged in diplomacy, duplicity, hypocrisy, and envy whether they are black or white. I will speak something more on this topic, with reference to rmad-Bhgavatam. We are all spirit souls. The soul is not white or black. All souls are very beautiful. Regarding the transcendental form of the soul, there is no question of who is less intelligent or more intelligent. If ladies are so low-class and so low in intelligence, how could the gops have defeated even Lord r Ka? Why does our guru-parampar, beginning from Brahm and Nrada, worship the gops? Why did r Caitanya Mahprabhu r Ka Himself adopt rmat Rdhs mood? rmat Rdhik always defeats Ka in beauty, in intelligence, and in all other ways. If ladies are less, why do we Gauya Vaiavas want to be gops? We want to serve Lord Ka and rmat Rdhik in a female form, not a male form. So how is it possible that this female form is lower? Dont think like this. rla Vysadeva appeared in a family of dras, and r Nrada i was also born in a dra-family. However, whoever calls them dras will go to hell. rla Haridsa hkura was born in a Muslim family. He appeared in a family in which cows were slaughtered and their flesh eaten, but he is not a Muslim. Rmnanda Rya said about himself, I am dra. This is td api suncena humility. Mahprabhu said about Himself, I am a Myvd sannys. Was He a Myvd sannys? Of course not. One may say that He Himself said so, but He said so only out of td api suncena. For preaching we give young boys sannysa, but actually it is being experienced that they are not fit for sannysa. There is no harm, however, if one thinks that he is unfit for sannysa; if he is very much agitated sexually, he should go to the rama where sex is allowed, namely the ghastha-rama (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Purport to rmad-Bhgavatam 8.2.30). 251
9

10
An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas lecture in Singapore, on February 13, 2001:
There are five kinds of knowledge: pratyaka, paroka, aparoka, adhokaja, and aprkta. The knowledge of everything we see and realize by our direct experience is called pratyaka; this is false knowledge. Next is paroka. We dont see Svarga, the heavenly planets, but we believe in them. We hear that if a man is a thief, a dacoit, a debauchee, and so on, he will have to go to hell. On the other hand, if he is pious, he will go to the heavenly planets and there he will be very happy. This knowledge is called paroka. Next is aparoka, as taught by akarcrya. This is the knowledge of impersonal Brahman, the idea that God is impersonal and that we are all non-different from God in all respects. Adhokaja is the knowledge of Vaikuha, the awareness that there is a place beyond time, where there is only the eternal present. In Vaikuha there is no birth and death, no suffering and sorrows. In that abode there is so much opulence, and everyone there prays to Nryaa. There is something higher than this, however, the most superior truth, which is called aprkta. Aprkta is knowledge of that realm where vraja-ll is performed. There, Ka is sometimes like a baby. There He is controlled by His father and mother, His beloved gops, and His friends. No one can ever imagine such very, very sweet pastimes. We must try to know this aprkta. This is the aim and object of our life service to this Ka. This is aprkta-jna.
252
253
Frielendorf
July 9, 2007
Morning walk
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are there any questions? Prakastma dsa: Yesterday you were talking about uka, the parrot of rmat Rdhr. When he was born as ukadeva Gosvm from the womb of rla Vysadevas wife, he was already situated in Brahman realization. He didnt see the difference between male and female, or even between humans and trees. Then he heard rmadBhgavatam for the third time. Why is this? Brajanth dsa: ukadeva heard rmad-Bhgavatam for the first time from akara (Lord iva). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no, no. Since ukadeva is the parrot of rmat Rdhik, he already knows everything more so than akara and others. Brajanth dsa: Since that is the case, then when he was in the womb, why did he have only Brahman realization (realization of allpervading spirit beyond matter)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A mother knows everything about her house and family. Still, when she hears from her son, Oh, my maternal uncles house is like this. He has good horses, she becomes happy. Similarly, ukadeva Gosvm, who in Kas pastimes is the parrot of rmat Rdhik named uka, knows more than akara. He went to Kailsa only to relish the sweet pastimes again. Brajanth dsa: But when he was in his mothers womb, before hearing rmad-Bhgavatam from Vysadeva, he only had brahmajna (Brahman realization, or knowledge of the impersonal Absolute Truth). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no, no. Because he is a partici pant in Rdhs pastimes, he knows everything and has full realiza tion of Rdh and Ka. Why would he taste only brahma-jna? We can compare ukas pastimes with those of St and Rma, or Rdhik and Ka. St is the personification of r Rmas power, hldin-akti, and thus non-different from Rma. So, one might ask what was the necessity of her marrying Him? The answer is that she married Him in order to enact her beautiful human-like pastimes with Him. 255
Similarly, ukadeva Gosvm was playing a role, for show. It was a show. He wanted to demonstrate to the world that Kas sweet pastimes are so powerful and attractive that even a brahmajn (one who is beyond material considerations and is situated in transcendence) is attracted by them: tmrm ca munayo nirgranth apy urukrame kurvanty ahaituk bhaktim ittham-bhta-guo hari rmad-Bhgavatam (1.7.10)
[Those who are satisfied within and who are most fortunate can become attracted by the qualities of r Bhagavn if they receive the causeless mercy of r Bhagavn and His devotees. They can then become absorbed in relishing the sweetness of bhakti-rasa by engaging in causeless devotion (ahaituk bhakti) to Him.]
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, yesterday you were stressing the necessity of vaidh-bhakti. You were saying that many persons are not following vaidh-bhakti, yet they want to achieve rgnuga-bhakti. What about those persons who are chanting and following all the principles of vaidh-bhakti, but always want to hear rasa-kath? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: To have this greed is good; very, very good. It is an elevated aspiration: ka-bhakti-rasa-bhvit mati kryat yadi kuto pi labhyate tatra laulyam api mlyam ekala janma-koi-suktair na labhyate r Caitanya-caritmta (Madhya-ll 8.70)
[If consciousness which is infused with the mood of the gops love for r Ka is available anywhere, then buy it at once, without delay. The only price to get it is laulyam, an intense longing to obtain vraja-bhva. Without this divine greed, such love cannot be obtained even by performing pious activities (karma-mira-bhakti or vaidh-bhakti) for millions of births.]
I was saying yesterday that genuine greed is good; it is very exalted. But the consideration is whether transcendental greed 256
Frielendorf
has really awakened. If one truly has that greed, he is at once qualified with the stage of ruci (true taste for chanting, hearing, and remembering). Real transcendental greed begins to manifest from the stage of ruci, not from the stage of raddh (initial faith). This is the qualification. Let us suppose one does not possess this qualification, yet he is telling others, I have so much greed for rgnuga-bhakti and rgtmik-bhakti. Suppose that person is speaking only on this subject to his various audiences. Then, later we see that he is entangled with a lady and has left his devotional practices. In that instance, where is his ruci? So, we should be careful. If we have actually attained such greed (laulyam), we do not disclose this by announcing, I have greed. We nourish this mood internally, while externally following vaidhbhakti. Internally, a person with real greed would be like rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Suppose a person admits, I dont have greed. But I want greed, so I want to hear only rasa-kath. This is the process for getting greed. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is essential that such a person also hears Bhagavad-gt, Uddhava-savda (the conversation between Ka and Uddhava in the Eleventh Canto of rmadBhgavatam), and similar subjects. By this, one will gain strength for rgnuga-bhakti. It has been written in Caitanya-caritmta (di-ll 2.117): siddhnta baliy citte n kara alasa ih ha-ite ke lge sudha mnasa
[A sincere student should not neglect the discussions of philosophical conclusions (siddhnta), considering them controversial, for such discussions strengthen the mind. Thus, ones mind becomes attached to r Ka.]
Are you happy with our classes? Harer-nmnanda dsa: Yes, very happy. I want to learn more from you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You are very fortunate. Thank you for your effort in organizing this good festival. Harer-nmnanda dsa: It is happening by your mercy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Rghava Paita, you should take more interest and come nearer to me. 257
Rghava Paita dsa: By your mercy. Absolutely. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: rla Rpa Gosvmpda has explained the symptoms of greed [in Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu 1.2.294]: Ka smaran jana csya preha nija-samhitam One remembers Ka, and especially His intimate associates. The second symptom is: Sev sdhaka-rpea siddha-rpea ctra hi One follows those exalted devotees who live in Vraja. And third is: ravaotkrtandni vaidha-bhakty-uditni tu yny agni ca tny atra vijeyni manibhi One maintains all the limbs of vaidh-bhakti. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I discussed this yesterday, and rla Bhaktivinoda hkura has given the same instruction in Jaiva-dharma. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: You said yesterday that rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura wrote about this in his Rga-vartma-candrik. There he says that a person established in rgnuga-bhakti follows the principals of vaidh-bhakti. If he neglects such principles, he simple creates disturbance (utptyaiva kalpate). Dhra-ka dsa: The followers of the Rmnuja sampradya, or r sampradya, attain Vaikuha without lobha-mayi-bhakti (bhakti enriched with pure greed to attain the transcendental service of r r Rdh Ka). They do this on the strength of vaidh-bhakti alone. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. By following such principles they attain pure aivarya-mayi-bhakti (bhakti imbued with full sense of the Lords godly opulence worship in awe and reverence). They can go to Vaikuha. Dhra-ka dsa: Serving in aivarya-mayi-bhakti, that devotee can transcend the stage of ruci and come to sakti (deep attachment), bhva (the initial stage of perfection in devotion), and prema (the highest stage of love for Ka). Isnt this a fact? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, they can achieve prema; but that prema will be aivarya-mayi-prema. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: This means they do not go beyond Vaikuha. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Are they called rgtmik-vaikuhabhaktas? Can we call them rgtmik-bhaktas?1
258
Frielendorf
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Who? rla Padmanbha Mahrja: The Vaikuha associates of Lord Nryaa. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. They are situated in rga, although it may be that they possess only nta-rga (attachment in the mood of passive adoration) or dsya-rga (attachment in the mood of servitorship). Those who reside in the Vaikuha planets are situated in dsya-rasa, and this is especially true in rma-ll. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: So, regarding the sdhaka who wants to attain Vaikuha and is worshiping Lord Rma or Lord Nryaa, can he be called a rgnuga-bhakta (one who is devotedly following in the footsteps of rgtmik devotees of the Lords spiritual abode)? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If one serves Nryaa like Jaya and Vijaya, or like Nrada, Vivaksena, Garua, or Lakm, he is known as a rgtmik-bhakta with aivarya-bhava. Dhra-ka dsa: We heard that the term rgtmik is used only in reference to the Vrajavss.. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. Rather, the associates in Vraja are rgtmik-bhaktas to the extreme point. Hanumn has some rga, as do the Pavas, but the rga of all the devotees outside Vraja is aivarya-mayi, full with a conception of the Lords opulence. Bhdhara dsa: rla Gurudeva, you say that whatever little realization someone like us may have, we should never share it with anyone. You said that would be compared with camphor which evaporates when exposed to the air. I think you indicated that someone who expresses supposedly high realizations is actually aspiring for prestige and followers. Is that correct? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If one is actually experiencing spiritual realizations, his nature will be that he will hide it as a millionaire hides his wealth. Do you understand? A millionaire will consider, Others should not know, otherwise they might somehow take it away. Similarly, a person with actual realization considers, I should hide my realization, otherwise it will evaporate like camphor burning by an open doorway. Is there a book table here at the festival? Brajanth dsa: Yes. 259
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Where? At the main gate? Brajanth dsa: They have a big book table outside the gate. Devotee: I feel very grateful to your sannysa disciples. They are taking care of me like a little brother. I want to ask you, rla Gurudeva, how can I serve you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By chanting, remembering, following the principles of your gurudeva and mine, and by following rla Rpa Gosvm. Also, you can distribute my books. You can serve me in this way. Devotee: Thank you very much. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This instruction is for everyone. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, r Caitanyacaritmta (di-ll 3.15) says, vidhi-bhaktye vraja-bhva pite nhi akti2. One cannot attain Ka by vaidh-bhakti. So, we dont need to perform vaidh-bhakti. We are doing rgnuga. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. If you are correct, then why has rla Ka dsa Kavirja Gosvm written about the sixtyfour limbs of bhakti? He is following rla Rpa Gosvm. Rgnuga-bhakti is the best form of bhakti in this world, but it is followed and experienced inwardly. One who actually possesses greed does not disclose it. rpda rdhara Mahrja: vidhi-mrga-rata-jane svdhnat ratna-dne rga-mrge karn pravea rga-vaavart haiy prakya bhvraye labhe jva ka-premvea Kalya-kalpataru by rla Bhaktivinoda hkura
[To the person fixed in the regulative principles, the holy name gives the jewel of independence, placing him on the path of spontaneous devotion (rgnuga-bhakti). That person, overcome by spontaneous attachment to the Lord, takes shelter of the parakya mood and goes on to become absorbed in love for r Ka.]
2 But simply by following such regulative principles one cannot attain the loving sentiments of the devotees in Vrajabhmi.*
260
Frielendorf
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The meaning of this loka is that in r Caitanya Mahprabhus sampradya the practices of vaidhbhakti take one to rgnuga. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Does that vaidh-bhakti have a special name? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. It is not rgnuga at first. It begins from vaidh-bhakti. If one in the line of rla Rpa Gosvm follows vaidh-bhakti, that vaidhbhakti is really the beginning of rgnuga. Will a rgnuga-bhakta follow Ekda, or not? Devotees: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Is this vaidh-bhakti or rgnugabhakti? Devotees: Vaidh. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Will that rgnuga-bhakta cele brate Janmam (r Kas appearance day), or not? And what about Nsiha-caturda? Is Nsiha-caturda (the appearance day of Lord Nsihadeva) vaidh-bhakti or rgnuga-bhakti? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: It is one hundred percent vaidh. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Still, everyone should observe these holy days, otherwise they will be corrupted. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Speaking to a brahmacr] My brahmacr, do you want to go down? [Meaning, do you want to leave your brahmacr-rama?] Devotee: Yes. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will slap you. Sannyss should not fall down, and brahmacrs should prepare to become sannyss in the future. One who gives up either the sannysa or brahmacr rama has no bhakti. Be careful. What you want depends on you. I cannot control you.
261
July 10, 2007

Morning walk
Devotee: I am looking for a guru. What are the qualities of a good guru a bona fide guru? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He knows all stra Vedas, Upaniads, and all other Vedic scriptures and thus he can remove the devotees doubts. He has realization of the Supreme Lord, and therefore he is able to transfer Ka from his own heart to the heart of his disciple. He is also quite detached from worldly things, but we cannot see this symptom. We can understand if a person is able to remove all kinds of doubts by his responses to our inquiries. However, if one can remove doubts but does not personally follow the rules and regulations of bhakti, that person cannot be a bona fide guru. Where is the reporter? Brajanth dsa: I spoke with him last night. He will be here at 5:30. He said he will meet you this morning at 5:30 or 6:00 oclock. Gauracandra dsa: Gurudeva, may I ask a question? Ka has created the material world so that He can enjoy pastimes of delivering the suffering fallen jvas. He cannot enjoy this pastime in the spiritual world because in the spiritual world no one is suffering. Only in the material world does Ka have the opportunity to exhibit compassion. I, a jva, am suffering in this material world. Does this mean that Ka doesnt love me so much? Does it mean that He loves His pastimes of deliverance more than He actually loves me? Does He place the jvas here to suffer just so that He can manifest His pastimes of compassion? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ka can accomplish so many things by one activity. He has come from Goloka Vndvana to relish the love and affection of the Vrajavss, especially the gops, and more especially Rdhik. Those who hear all of Kas sweet pastimes with the Vrajavss will be liberated and develop kaprema. Ka has also come to establish religious principles: yad yad hi dharmasya glnir bhavati bhrata 262
Frielendorf
abhyutthnam adharmasya tadtmna sjmy aham paritrya sdhn vinya ca duktm dharma-sasthpanrthya sambhavmi yuge yuge Bhagavad-gt (4.78)
[O descendant of Bharata, whenever there is a decline of religion and an increase in irreligion, at that time I manifest My eternally perfect form in this mundane world. To protect My unalloyed devotees, to annihilate the wicked, and to firmly establish religion, I appear in every age.]
Gauracandra dsa: I am wondering how much Ka loves me, compared to how much He loves His pastimes. It seems that I have to suffer so that He can be compassionate. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You cannot realize Kas love at your present stage, but when you have attained the bhakti of Uddhava you will realize that He has so much love and affection for you. He is causelessly merciful. He comes here for so many reasons about twelve reasons as I explained yesterday. He comes here to help persons like you. Do you still have the doubt? Has it not yet been removed? Gauracandra dsa: I know Im stupid, Gurudeva. Ive got so much to realize. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We cannot imagine Kas love. It is beyond the limit of our mundane knowledge. He is samadar, which means that He is equal to all. He comes to this world, but He is not attached to it. One of His names is Ananta, which indicates that He is unlimited. If you love Him, you will realize, He loves me. If you do not love Him, you will think, He is neglecting me. Kasa thought, Ka is my enemy. He is coming to kill me. But Ka did not kill him. Rather, Ka liberated him from all worldly considerations, in order that he would no longer commit offences to devotees. Ka is very kind. Devotee: I suppose this refers to the verse: 263
ye yath m prapadyante ts tathaiva bhajmy aham mama vartmnuvartante manuy prtha sarvaa Bhagavad-gt (4.11)
[In whatever way My devotees surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pth.*]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. acnandana dsa: Can I ask a question? A bhakta once came to rla Gaura Kiora dsa Bbj along with his new wife. rla Gaura Kiora dsa Bbj told him, Every day you should do pj to your wife.3 Is this appropriate for us? And if it is, then how should it be done? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [With affectionate and playful sarcasm, encouraging his students to avoid running after sense gratification in the form of enjoying the opposite sex] You can daily wash her feet, and then take her foot-bathing water on your head. You can pray like this, Oh dev, be kind to me. And if she beats you, you should say, O dev, I am now satisfied. Madhusdana dsa: Gurudeva, there are two things necessary to advance in bhakti; sdhana, devotional practice, and guru-kp, the mercy of guru. If I have these, do I require any separate effort to develop rgnuga-bhakti? Or, does it appear spontaneously? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When your guru manifests his mercy upon you, he will pray to Ka for you. Ka knows every thing, so He will be very kind. His heart will melt, and He will have mercy upon you so that you will attain success. Madhusdana dsa: I dont have to make any special effort to develop rgnuga? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Both are needed; sdhana must be performed. When Yaod was trying to bind Ka, she vowed, I will bind Him, otherwise I will not eat anything. I will fast. Perspiring, she thought, What is this?! Why am I not binding Him?? O Nryaa, Nryaa! [not knowing that her son is the original Nryaa]
264
Frielendorf
I must bind my son! Seeing her great determination, Ka at once allowed Himself to be bound, merely by the rope that tied her hair. sva-mtu svinna-gtry visrasta-kabara-sraja dv parirama ka kpayst sva-bandhane rmad-Bhgavatam (10.9.18)
[r Ka saw that His mothers body had become drenched with perspiration. The garlands woven into her braid had fallen out, and she had become utterly exhausted. Seeing His mothers fatigue, little r Ka compassionately allowed Himself to be bound.]
rpda Nemi Mahrja: [Affectionately referring to rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja] So we should just meditate, Nryaa, Nryaa, Nryaa? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Referring to the original Nryaa, Vrajendra-nandana r Ka] Without Nryaa, our destination cannot be reached. rpda Nemi Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, if we remember lokas from r Vilpa-kusumjali while we chant harinma, is this like remem bering Kas pastimes, or is it like remembering aa-klya-ll? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can think as you like. rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm has given aa-klya-ll in Vilpakusumjali, but in brief. It is all right to think in this way. Arisana dsa: Gurudeva, every day we chant in the song r-gurucaraa-padma, Janme janme prabhu sei r guru is my lord, birth after birth. Is it that we are only starting to serve gurudeva in this life and that it will now go on forever, or have we already started in past lives? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Some have performed bhakti in previous lives, and some are newcomers. Regarding those who are now advanced, they have performed devotional activities in past lives. Regarding those who dont know much about bhakti but are beginning to develop raddh by hearing from bona fide Vaiavas, they are new. It may also be true that some persons have accrued sukti (spiritual merits) in previous lives from having previously accepted a guru and are now joining again, but they may not be very 265
sincere, whereas a new devotee may advance more quickly if he is sincere. Kamala-knta dsa: rla Gurudeva, one of your preachers once said that bhakti cannot be checked by any material cause. What does it really mean? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What do you mean by material cause? Kamala-knta dsa: Well, entanglement in the material world. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If someone is helping his gurudeva by giving a great deal of money, and if his gurudeva really spends this money on book publication, temples, and service to guru and all other Vaiavas, then, although that money is material and some sin may have been committed by the donor, it will help in that donors development of bhakti. Do you understand? A flower and water are material, but when offered to hkuraj they become transcendental. Praktm dsa: Yesterday you were speaking in your class about 4 . I am wondering, when the mah-purua (selfAnanta Vsudeva realized crya) leaves this world, is it usual that his mission goes into chaos? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not necessarily. If one is like Ananta Vsudeva, for him there will be chaos. After our gurudeva departed from this world, even after over forty years, we have remained fixed in his devotion. On the other hand, anyone who is engaged in nonsense activities and offenses must suffer in chaos. By serving ones gurudeva with virambhea guru-sev (intimacy) one very quickly develops ka-prema, but if one commits offenses he goes to Rastala (the lowest hellish planetary system). There is a loka in stra which states that if the root of the lotus is situated in the water, it blossoms under the sun. If there is no water, however, that same lotus will wilt and dry up. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: nryao pi vikti yti guro pracyutasya durbuddhe kamala jald apeta oayati ravir na poayati Jaladkhyna Sahit
266
Frielendorf
[When a lotus flower is situated in water, the rays of the sun cause it to blossom. The same sun, however, will wither a lotus which is not situated in water. In this example the disciple is compared to the lotus, r guru to water, and the Supreme Lord to the sun.]
Praktm dsa: So we have to pray to the guru that he will always be rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Guru is the root of bhakti. Guru, Vaiava, and sdhu are the roots. A sdhu is able to describe to us the glory of gurudeva, because he himself is guru. Devotee: I have a question. We know that r gurus position in ka-ll is as a majar. What is his position in caitanya-ll? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What do you mean by majar? Devotee: I dont know. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It was for all of you that I spoke about rgnuga and related topics in my class. Dont try to jump to the top. Begin from the bottom, not from majar-bhva, otherwise youll be rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is not asking what is gurus majar form in Rdh-Kas pastimes rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What does he want to know? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He wants to know what is the form of guru in Caitanya Mahprabhus pastimes? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is better that you desire to know how your anarthas will disappear, and how your sambandhajna (relationship) with Ka will strengthen. Dont go beyond that. You are new, so where have you heard about majar-bhva? Perhaps someone has told you that you are a majar? It is best not to think about this at your stage. rpda uddhdvait Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, rla Gour Govinda Mahrja used to say that raddh (implicit faith that by performing bhakti all other subsidiary activities are automatically accomplished) and sukti (spiritual credits accrued by performance of bhakti in previous lives) are interrelated; they are linked. We hear that according to previous sukti we get sdhu-saga. Still, all of us 267
Westerners took birth in the families of cow-eaters. Is that why it is seen that the raddh of most Westerners remains komala (weak) for a very long time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It may be; it may be. rpda uddhdvait Mahrja: We had accumulated sukti, but still we took birth in the families of mlecchas. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. rpda uddhdvait Mahrja: So, how much sukti was there? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We think that Western persons live in bhoga-bhmi. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: The place of enjoying material life. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not sdhana-bhmi (the place of sdhana-bhakti). But now, by the grace of mah-puruas, selfrealized souls, they are coming in the devotional line. rpda uddhdvait Mahrja: But their sukti is meager? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It may be that their sukti is okay. Otherwise, how is it that they are now becoming advanced? Padmanbha Mahrja and all others here were cow-eaters, but just see the transformation. See how they have become advanced. rpda Nemi Mahrja: His question is this: If we had the sukti to get the saga of a very beautiful sdhu, then why did we take birth in the family of cow-eaters? It seems strange that both would be there? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But now you do not take cowmeat; do you? One more point. Even if you would have eaten cow-meat through out your life, but in the end of your life, by the mercy of Ka or guru and Vaiavas, you chant only a few holy names, all your sins would go away. Have you read about the pastime of Ajmila? He not only ate meat, but he engaged in numerous abominable sinful activities. Still, all his sins disappeared by chanting nmbhsa, a semblance of the pure holy name of Lord Nryaa. So, there is nothing to fear or worry. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Can it also be possible that someone was a devotee in his previous life, but then committed some heavy 268
Frielendorf
vaiava-apardha and was cursed to take birth in some bhogabhmi or in a family of cow-eaters? Is that also possible? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It may be; it may be. If one commits guru-apardha, he must get some sinful result. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Jva-pvana dsa] When will you take sannysa? Or, will you remain married throughout your life? Jva-pvana dsa: I am waiting for your order. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Your son is already a sannys, but you are still now where you were before. Jva-pvana dsa: I have a three year plan, but you can make it three weeks if you like. Devotee: I would like to ask about vraja-prema. What are the rasas included in vraja-prema? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There are twelve rasas in Vraja, but the main ones are three: sakhya (friendship), vtsalya (parenthood), and mdhurya (amorous love). nta (passive adora tion) is present there, but it is covered. It does not manifest.
July 11, 2007

Before the walk
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: You are initiated? Devotee: Yes, I am initiated. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Then why are you smoking? Devotee: I am trying to give it up. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Give it up. Devotee: I will do it. [Then, performing a short marriage ceremony:] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You must first promise that after your marriage ceremony you shall remain together for the rest of your lives; that you will not divorce each other. 269
[To the groom] Repeat after me. I promise that throughout my life Devotee: I promise that throughout my life rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I will not divorce her. Devotee: I will not divorce her; I promise. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You must respect each other. [To the groom] You should respect her.
July 11, 2007

Morning Walk
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: On a few occasions Mother Yaod chastises Ka in this way: You are a thief. You are a friend of the monkeys. But the gops very often rebuke Him in stronger ways: You have killed a lady (Ptan), and You have killed a cow (Arisura). Dont touch us. Go away at once. Jahi, jahi Go, go. What kind of bhakti is this? Is it bhakti to rebuke and call Ka cheater and head of all liars? How is it bhakti? iupla also rebuked Ka, saying, There is no certainty as to the identity of Your father and mother. You are a liar and a cheater. iupla uttered words similar to that of the gops, but he received a different result. Ka cut off his head. Why was this? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: The gops have unparalleled prema for Ka, and their whole intention is that Ka should be happy. They understand that Ka is very pleased by the loving mood coming from their hearts. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The gops consider that Ka will be happy by their abusing and insulting Him. Can you explain? Prema-prayojana dsa: In his definition of uttam-bhakti (the highest form of bhakti), rla Rpa Gosvmpda uttered the words nuklyena knulanam. The word nuklyena means devoid of an antagonistic mood towards Ka. iupla was antagonistic towards Him, whereas the gops love Him. In fact, the gops become angry only because of their very intimate relationship with Him. 270
Frielendorf
Ka personally confirmed this when He said, When My beloveds rebuke Me, I experience such great pleasure that I forget all the glorification of the Vedas, as well as that of the stutis (hymns) of Brahm and other demigods. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: In the di Pura, Arjuna asked Ka, O Ka, I have heard that You become so happy when the vrajagops rebuke You in many ways. On the other hand, when Brahm stole Your cows and then glorified You by ardent prayers, You hardly paid any attention to him. What is the cause of this? Ka replied, Arjuna, because you are My dear friend, I will now tell you something very confidential. In the hearts of the gops of Vraja resides a beautiful paramour mood. Thus, even their harsh words please Me immensely. Although great poets glorify Me with ornamental language, they cannot please Me; whereas the gops overwhelm Me with pleasure. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They both explained this very well. Ka is not very interested to hear His glories sung from the mouths of Brahm, and He never looks towards him. For the gops, on the other hand, He holds His two ears like cups in order to hear their words. Do you have any questions? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Your speaking is so inspired here; even more so than in Badger. It seems that you are speaking with more energy and enthusiasm. Is it because of the number of devotees here? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It seems that I am telling more? I spoke strongly about the true symptoms of rgnuga-bhakti for those who have some misconception. It was for them that I spoke such words. Transcendental greed is very sacred and exalted. It must therefore be kept concealed within the heart, as burning camphor is kept in a closed room so that its fragrance will not evaporate but instead become more and more condensed. If you have any realizations, it is best to conceal them. Do you understand the word yara-mata? Devotee: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It applies to one who knows, My mother goes to other men, but he does not tell others. Paramnanda dsa: rla Gurudeva, I heard that if we dont share our realization, we will lose it. 271
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Some things are meant to be concealed in the heart and others are meant to be shared. Some subject matters may be told to worldly persons, whereas mysterious things are for telling only to elevated persons. It is not that one rule applies to all circumstances. It is not that one may tell everything everywhere. All of you, be ready to speak in this evenings class about Baksura, Aghsura, and brahma-vimohana-ll. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, what you have just mentioned about the gops mood toward Ka is very difficult to understand. On one hand the gops have so much love for Ka, and on the other side they become angry with Him and rebuke Him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It seems that they are angry, but actually they are not. They act in that way simply to please Ka. They do this so that others will think they are angry. rpda Dmodara Mahrja: Gurudeva, rla Trivikrama Mahrja said that Ka never abuses the gops. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, never. Ka considers that He cannot dare to abuse them, otherwise they will all leave His company at once. rpda raut Mahrja: In a commentary you gave on knt-prema (the love of the gops for Ka) in Rya Rmnanda Savda, you said that due to the gops surrender to Ka, they know that by insulting Him He will always remain with them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The one thing I neglected to say is that Ka is very surrendered to the gops. rpda raut Mahrja: Is it because they surrendered that He also surrendered fully to them? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ka has surrendered, but not fully. He cant. rpda rama Mahrja: Suppose somebody is not realized, and yet he is speaking about high topics (regarding the amorous pastimes of r r Rdh and Ka). In order to explain bhva and prema, he is reading and speaking these pastimes to others. He is not going so deeply into the details, not making the pastimes look naked, but he is doing something near to that. Is this okay, or not okay?
272
Frielendorf
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: To whom is that person speaking? If it is to young ladies, then it is bogus. Men should not speak to ladies alone. rpda rama Mahrja: What if it is spoken to a mixed audience? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If males are also there, and if one is glorifying r r Rdh and Kas pastimes in a covered way, that may be okay; there is no harm in that. A teacher may speak only with persons who have the qualifications to hear such topics. rpda rama Mahrja: In certain circumstances there are some qualified hearers. In other words, sometimes our groups are mixed. What should a teacher do in such cases? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A teacher or guru must be careful not to speak to an unqualified audience; otherwise both the guru and hearer will go down. naitat samcarej jtu manaspi hy anvara vinayaty caran mauhyd yath rudro bdhi-ja viam rmad-Bhgavatam (10.33.30)
[One should never imitate the behavior of great persons. If out of foolishness an ordinary person imitates such behavior (i.e. Kas dancing with the gops), even mentally, he is doomed; just as one who imitates Rudra by swallowing an ocean of poison.]
[To rpda Padmanbha Mahrja] What is the meaning? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: This is the verse told by rla ukadeva Gosvm to Mahrja Parkit at the end of his rsa-ll narration. He says there that no one should dare to imitate even mentally, or even to imagine that they can perform rsa-ll as Ka does. This is because they are not vara, God, or god-like controllers like Lord iva. Lord iva can drink an entire ocean of poison and not become affected by it, but the ordinary conditioned soul will immediately die if he tries to imitate him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If one has some realization due to hearing from gurudeva with faith, he can tell something to those who are qualified to hear. Otherwise, he should not repeat anything. rpda rama Mahrja: If someone was once a sannys, but after he left sannysa he is still touching on high things, is that okay, or not okay? 273
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We cannot put a lock on anyones mouth. It is written in rmad-Bhgavatam: vikrita vraja-vadhbhir ida ca vio raddhnvito nuuyd atha varayed ya bhakti par bhagavati pratilabhya kma hd-rogam v apahinoty acirea dhra rmad-Bhgavatam (10.33.39)
[A grave person who faithfully and continuously hears the narrations of the transcendental pastimes that Bhagavn r Ka performed with the young girls of Vraja, and then describes those pastimes accordingly, achieves supreme devotion for the lotus feet of Bhagavn. He very quickly attains freedom from the diseases of the heart, which are the transformations of lust.]
If one hears with full faith from a realized person, and after that he describes those topics with faith, then, very soon, transcendental kma (amorous love) for Ka will manifest in his heart. What kind of kma? He will determine, I must serve Ka as the gops (majars) serve. This mood, called kmnuga-bhakti (the gops transcendental paramour love for Ka) will manifest in the heart. At that time, all worldly lust, the disease of the heart, will disappear forever. If one hears, or has heard, the topics of Kas pastimes with the gops, and if lust from ones heart is thus gone, how is it possible for that person to marry again? Do you understand? If that person marries again, what does this mean? Has aunaka i or any of the eighty-eight thousand is married again? rpda rama Mahrja: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The fruit of such faithful hearing is bhakti. The measurement of ones advancement in bhakti is the extent to which one is detached from wealth, reputation, wife, and all other varieties of sense gratification. rpda rama Mahrja: Will the raddh (faith) mentioned in that verse be on the level of nih (steadiness), or ruci (taste for devotion), or just raddh? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Full raddh.
274
Frielendorf
Gokula-candra dsa: If one considers that his worshipful Deity is Lord Rma in Ayodhy, then he might think that Hare Rma means St and Rma. So how does it refer to? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We should understand that the worshipful Deity of the Hare Ka mantra is one. In Hare Ka the name Ka is there, and Ka is non-different from His name. In that case, Hare Rma cannot be St and Rma. A person must know who his worshipful Deity is. In this mantra, Rma refers to Rdh-ramaa, meaning Ka, the beloved of Rdh, who enjoys pastimes with Her. Gokula-candra dsa: And how does the mah-mantra refer to r guru? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can consider that gurudeva has given you the mah-mantra Rdh and Ka. We are there fore always indebted to him. This indebtedness is not a worldly exchange; it is transcendental. Arisana dsa: Gurudeva, regarding that verse you just quoted: Vikrita vraja-vadhbhir ida ca vio. You said that we should hear and repeat. My question is, how can we repeat such a high subject? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Not everyone is qualified to repeat these topics. When ones hearing is complete, and by that perfect hearing one achieves all spiritual qualities and all negative qualities disappear from his heart, then he is qualified to speak. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: I have a question in this regard. Suppose a devotee is hearing with strong faith, serving for some time, and repeating what he has heard. But then, possibly because he has committed some offense, he falls from his position. Is it possible that at one time he could have had this kind of raddh and then lost it? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, it may be. Until the stage of bhva-bhakti5 a person may do something wrong. He may criticize guru, Vaiavas, or Ka, and then he may fall down.
5 The stage of bhva-bhakti is the initial stage of perfection in devotion. It is compared to the first ray of the prema-sun appearing in the heart of the bhaktisdhaka that marks the end of the stage of sdhana.
275
July 11, 2007

Vicitr ds: Last night you spoke this loka: nivtta-tarair upagyamnd bhavauadhc chrotra-mano-bhirmt ka uttamaloka-gunuvdt pumn virajyeta vin paughnt rmad-Bhgavatam (10.1.4)
[Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampar system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those who are no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher or one who is killing his own self?*]
You were saying that hearing hari-kath from the lips of a pure Vaiava is the infallible medicine to remove our anarthas and give us bhakti. Then you told the story of Ananta Vsudeva [a disciple of rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura]. You explained that he had been hearing hari-kath from the lips of a pure Vaiava he was following the formula but that he fell down. So, what went wrong? Why didnt it work? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I explained that he began to criticize rla Prabhupda. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: His own guru. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He claimed that rla Prabhupda does not understand madhura-rasa (r r Rdh-Kas amorous love). He left rla Prabhupda and went to a sahajiy bbj. He gave away rla Prabhupdas books to vendors [and disposed of them and destroyed them by various means]. It was because of this very great offense that a desire to marry came in his heart. He thus took poison and descended to Rastala (one of the hells). So, you must all be careful. 276
Frielendorf
Paramnanda dsa: rla Gurudeva, Mahrja Parkit said to the bull of religion, dharma, that the person who identifies the performer of a sinful act gets the same destination as the person who perpetrated the act.6 What does this mean? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It means that another person is not responsible for ones sufferings. Although it was Kali who beat the legs of the bull, the bull did not tell Mahrja Parkit, Kali had done this to me. As an elevated devotee, he said, I dont know who has done this to me. It has been caused by my previous karma. He who controls the entire world who ordains creation, maintenance, and destruction has done this.7 Paramnanda dsa: Would the saintly King Parkit feel some discomfort by punishing criminals? Is he unhappy to give this punishment? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Kali-yuga (the age of quarrel and hypocrisy) is a very high-class yuga (age). In Kali-yuga, if any pious or spiritual activities are performed by the mind alone, the fruits of those activities will be enjoyed by the performer. On the other hand, if one performs some sin not by body, but by mind that mental act will not produce a sinful reaction. [In previous ages, one would have to taste the fruits of a sinful act simply by thinking about doing some sin.] In Kali-yuga you can receive all perfection by harinma, chanting, and even nma-bhsa produces good results.
6 The king said: O you who are in the form of a bull, you know the truth of religion.
You are speaking according to the principle that the destination intended for the perpetrator of irreligious acts is also intended for one who identifies the perpetrator. You are no other than the personality of religion* (rmad-Bhgavatam 1.17.22).
7 O greatest among human beings, it is very difficult to ascertain the particular miscreant who has caused our sufferings, because we are bewildered by all the different opinions of theoretical philosophers. Some of the philosophers, who deny all sorts of duality, declare that ones own self is responsible for his personal happiness and distress. Others say that superhuman powers are responsible, while yet others say that activity is responsible, and the gross materialists maintain that nature is the ultimate cause. There are also some thinkers who believe that no one can ascertain the cause of distress by argumentation, nor know it by imagination, nor express it by words. O sage amongst kings, judge for yourself by thinking over all this with your own intelligence* (rmad-Bhgavatam 1.17.1820).
277
July 11, 2007

Dar sana
[There were a few hundred devotees at this darana. They lined up in front of rla Mahrjas vyssana and, one after another, spoke a few words to him and perhaps asked a question. Here is an excerpt:] rpda Nemi Mahrja: Gurudeva, this is Indumat from Lithuania. She is an artist and has spoken with ymar dd. ymar dd likes her. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. rpda Nemi Mahrja: [Translating] She wants to know if you have some particular project for her to work on. She is thinking of making a coloring book for children. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Indumat ds] Good. You can be with ymar, and your artwork will improve. She will help you, and then your pictures can come in our publications. ymar ds: After this festival we are going to other cities in Germany. In case you give any phone initiations where we will be, can you bless these beads? [rla Mahrja touches all the sets of beads in a bag.] You said last night that watching a video of you is not as beneficial as seeing you in person. So, what is the actual benefit of seeing a video of you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, something will still come. By watching the video, one will get knowledge, and gradually that persons raddh (faith in bhakti) will increase. acnandana dsa: Is it like a book, Gurudeva? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Like a book. ymar ds: She has a question, but her English is not very good. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can ask for her. Where is she from? ymar ds: She is from Brazil, but she is living with the Gagmts in England. Most young girls want to get married. One side of her is like this, but another side of her wants to be a brahmacri and continue living with the Gagmts. She wants to know what you want her to do. 278
Frielendorf
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you want to marry, dont suppress it; you can marry. But if in your heart you really want to be a brahmacri, then do that be like the Gagmts. ymar ds: What do you think she is qualified for? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It depends on her own will. It depends whether or not her will is pakka (first class). If not, she should marry, but it is better to be like the Gagmts. If she cannot do that, then she can marry. nit ds: rla Gurudeva, my friend Kelly wants to give this [a gift] to you. She is here for two or three days. Vsant ds: Gurudeva, you are so merciful to bring me on tour with you. This is the rest of the money for my ticket. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You are always giving, always giving. Gt ds (from Amsterdam): rla Gurudeva, before I took initiation I was able to chant with quantity and quality. But now I am having a problem with both quality and quantity. I am wondering if I had sdhu-saga in a previous life and that is why I was able to chant well in the beginning. What would be the reason I cant chant now? Have I committed an offense? If so, how can I find the personalities who I committed offenses towards, to apologize? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You are lacking in pure sdhusaga. If you were in sdhu-saga, especially like ymar is in sdhu-saga, you would again be inspired. Become inspired, and then chant and remember. Tru ds (from Stuttgart): I want to ask if it is better to start training for management, or is it better do more and more bhakti? Would it be better to go to the Gagmts, or to India? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What kind of management? Tru ds: For seven months I would get trained in acquiring skills for organization and management. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If it is favorable for bhakti, you can do that. Tru ds: Yes, but is it more important to first get absorbed in bhakti-yoga? Im twenty-nine years old. 279
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Bhakti is required. Best to do what is most favorable for bhakti. If you are always chanting and remembering in sdhu-saga, that is good. Management alone will not do. Tru ds: I know, but my dilemma is this: Should I get the training of Ka consciousness at the Gagmts, or go to India, and after that get this material training? Thats my dilemma. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The Gagmts are trained. They can train you. Tru ds: After that, should I go to the material world and learn management? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should train those who dont know anything about bhakti. Tru ds: Ok, thank you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To another devotee] Remain in sdhu-saga and read about the character of Vaiavas like Prahlda Mahrja and Raghuntha dsa Gosvm. Sucitr ds: Gurudeva, is it possible for me to stay in India? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you can manage with no money problem, then you can do so. Sucitr ds: Can I live by only distributing your books? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, yes. You can do that. Devotee: I am here for the first time. If it is to your liking, I can help distribute your books and also translate them in the Finnish language. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, you can do that. Very good. Devotee: I have Deities, but I always feel unqualified to worship Them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If hkuraj is with you, you must worship Them. Anupam ds: This is Hemg and her daughter Anurdh. They do a lot of service in Munich. Hemg is sewing all of hkurajs outfits. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good, very good. 280
Frielendorf
Devotee: How can I serve you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can chant harinma, learn siddhnta, and develop in bhakti. You can distribute my books. Devotee: Gurudeva, which article from the Rays of the Harmonist would you like to be translated first into Russian? There are so many. Which should we begin with? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Whichever one you think is better to translate. Devotee: Which crya should we start with? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: You can start with any article by rla Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Whatever you think is best. You can also translate rla Bhaktivinoda hkuras articles. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: He is a disciple of rla Bhakti Svarpa Dmodara Mahrja. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, rla Bhakti Svarpa Dmodara Mahrja was my friend. Do you have love for your family members? Devotee: Yes, for some of them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, you should give that love to Ka. Whatever you have, give it to Ka.
July 12, 2007

Morning walk
Devotee: rla Gurudeva, I have been smoking marijuana. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: He wants to ask for forgiveness. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Always remember that intoxicants cannot give you happiness. Death is coming very soon; you dont know exactly when it will come. If you neglect the rules and regulations, you will have to go to hell. You cannot imagine what hell is like. 281
Devotee: Attachment to this world is very bad for those who want to practice sdhana-bhakti. I am so attached to my family. What are the consequences? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to give your attachment to Ka, and in that way you will become happy forever. Other attachments will lead you to hell. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: His family members are also devotees. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That is okay, but dont be attached. See only that they are children of Ka. You have been given the duty as a family member only to see that your family becomes devotees. Vndvana dsa (from Denmark): rla Gurudeva, the other day you asked me for my pranm. You explained that pranma (offering of obeisances) does not mean only to offer folded palms and sgadanavat (bowing down on the ground), but to offer ones heart and soul to gurudeva. In that context, what exactly does pranm mean? Brajanth dsa: The day before yesterday he gave you pranm (a donation) from someone else, and then you asked him, Where is your pranm? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You have become a vnt. Do you know the meaning of vnt? It means that you have again eaten what you have already vomited. This is very bad. You left your wife and took saffron cloth (representing the life of brahmacarya), and then you rejected your saffron cloth and returned to her. Dont change like this. Vndvana dsa: But you said to me rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I never told you to take saffron cloth, and never told you to give it up. Try to be strong. Vndvana dsa: I had never asked your permission to renounce and take saffron. Therefore I did not feel blessed. So, without feeling blessed rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I do not want to hear any argu ments. Be strong. Vndvana dsa: By your mercy Gurudeva. Paramnanda dsa (from Ireland): rla Gurudeva, when we are selling books, we sometimes meet people from the Muslim faith. 282
Frielendorf
When we tell them that our nmcrya rla Haridsa hkura was born in a Mohammedan family, they sometimes ask if in his childhood he ate meat. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He never took meat in his entire life since birth. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Although he was born in a Muslim family, his family members were like Hindus. He was brought up like a Hindu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He was an incarnation of the combination of Brahm and Prahlda. You should know that he would never take meat. Paramnanda dsa: And the Chand Kazi? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: At first he was eating meat. Then, by the association of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, he gave up all his sinful activities. rpda Bhaktivednta Vaiava Mahrja is preaching every where in China in his sannysa dress? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Not when he crosses the border. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: It is not possible at that time. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Only at the border? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Not only at the border. The Buddhist religion is accepted by the government because it is Chinas official religion. But other religions are illegal; completely illegal. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But the government says that it is all right for an Indian to wear saffron cloth in China. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: The Svm Nryaa groups went there. The government allowed Indians to attend their function because it is their own religion, but Westerners were not allowed. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: If they see Indians wearing this dress, they dont have any suspicions, but if they see Westerners wearing this dress, they become very suspicious. They watch, and expel them from the country. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Vaiava Mahrja changes his cloth?
283
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Yes, he must change his cloth when in public, but for preaching in a house he always wears his sannysa dress. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The devotees in China are preaching very well. Hundreds of devotees have been initiated there. Devotee: In Hong Kong there is no problem to wear saffron cloth. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Previously, during the communist time in Russia, our guru mahrja, rla Bhaktivednta Svm Prabhupda, gave sanction for the devotees to wear ordinary clothing for preaching. He was very pleased by this. Gurudeva, which chapters will you speak about tonight? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: We will come to Kas pastimes with Kliya, and then with Arisura, and perhaps Pralambsura. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Govardhana? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Govardhana. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Rasnanda prabhu [now rpda rdhara Mahrja] told me yesterday that he wants to try to speak about Govardhana. He has a very good kath for Govardhana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: All right. The pastimes of Govardhana include Kas punishing the demigod Indra and holding up Govardhana on His finger. I want to finish those subjects very quickly so that I can come to Veu-gta, Rsa-ll, and then Gop-gta. I also want to speak something about Bhramara-gta. Yaasvin ds: If someone performs nirjala8 Ekda but takes your personal prasdam remnants, does that break the Ekda? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. Yaasvin ds: So which is better to do nirjala and take Gurudevas remnants, or do nirjala and not take it? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: You can keep Gurudevas remnants for honoring on the day after nirjala. [In that way nirjala is protected and the devotee is also honoring Gurudevas prasdam.]
8 Nirjala: nir means no, and jal means water; to observe a full fast, even from water.
284
Frielendorf
Devotee: I have committed some offenses. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Dont commit offenses. If you increase your chanting, offenses will disappear.
July 13, 2007

Morning Walk
Malati ds (from France): Gurudeva, Tru is leaving this morning to go back to Canada. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Tru ds] Oh, my blessings are with you. Paramnanda dsa: Gurudeva, this is Dwayne and Ian from Northern Ireland. They came to see you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Have they heard our classes? Paramnanda dsa: Yes, they heard last night. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To the guests] Be happy by chanting and remembering the Lord. There is no need to make worldly plans for the future. There is no need to think, We dont know what will happen after Mahrja leaves this world. We should make a separate arrangement for our future so that we can be peaceful. Dont think like this. Think only about how to attain kaprema; how to attain sajtya snigdha aya, the association of pure devotees who are affectionate to you and who are oceans of the transcendental mood for which you aspire. Best to mold your life only around this, and thus make your life successful. Dont worry, thinking, Oh, what will be our future after Mahrja leaves this world? We should do something separate for our welfare. What you propose, God will dispose. So, no need to worry. rpda uddhdvait Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, some devotees are asking that at the time of dk initiation you say that we should take Ka as our priyatama, our most beloved. But, since rmat Rdhik is already Kas beloved, how can we take Him as our beloved?
285
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is the meaning of gop-janavallabha: Ka is the beloved of all the gops. You can think of this in the way that Rpa Majar or Rpa Gosvm thinks. You can follow Rupa Gosvm in his sdhaka form, as well as in his form as the gop, Rpa Majar. Gauracandra dsa (from England): Gurudeva, if I chant my japa in front of the Deities in the temple, should I meditate more on Ka, or on Rdhr? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Both. They are the Divine Couple. Rma dsa (from Germany): rla Gurudeva, I would like to show you a picture from my magazine. I made an announcement in it for your Bhakti-Yoga Festival. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: For this festival? Rma dsa: Yes, it was for this festival, and it brought some people. I wrote an article, and in the article I made a small presentation about the meaning of bhakti-yoga. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good, very good. How many people read the magazine? Rma dsa: It has a print-run of 5,000. It comes out four times a year. It has more than 5,000 readers because two, or three, or four people are reading each copy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. rla Bhaktivinoda hkura, r Gurupdapadma [rla Bhakti Prajana Keava Gosvm Mahrja], and rla Sarasvati hkura also published magazines. Rma dsa: I regularly do one article with some pictures and infor mation about you. [Showing a photo in the magazine] I think this is a very nice picture of you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. rpda rama Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, regarding what you just said about not making future plans plans for after you leave rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Make plans only for sdhusaga. You can plan how to be successful by sdhu-saga, and how to attain ka-prema. Your whole attention must be on that. Dont think, When Mahrja is no longer in this world, what to do? 286
Frielendorf
I dont know what will happen. I dont know what will happen to the saga. So, from right now, I should try to create something separate in order that I can be very happy and peaceful. Dont think like that. Rather, place your whole attention on Ka consciousness. I was telling only this. rpda rama Mahrja: I have a personal question in that regard. I am developing a project for Vaiava studies that is separate from the group in Birmingham, but I am also still working with the group. I am not thinking about the future in the way you just described, because my mind is not on possession of property. I actually dont care about that. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I think this project should be for everyone. Everyone with projects should think, This is not my own property. Rather, it is a bhakti project. rpda rama Mahrja: This is a bhakti project, but it is also specific. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And at the same time everyone should think, This is my maha. You can consider your project in this way. Brajanth dsa: Mahrja desires to train devotees who want to become dedicated brahmacrs and sannyss. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: In Mathur, in Vndvana, and everywhere else we are teaching everyone, Oh, you stand up [and speak], and you stand up. We do this together, with hundreds and thousands of devotees. Why cant you do it this way? rpda rama Mahrja: I want to do it in a different way, but if you want me to do in this way, I will do it. I have no problem. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do what is favorable for you. I expressed my desires, but everyone is independent to do as they like. Even Ka cannot take away your independence. rpda rama Mahrja: I will do as you desire; no problem. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This instruction is not only for you. It is for all. Our whole attention should be on how we can achieve ka-prema. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: Gurudeva, sometimes we preach to Christian people, after which they become attracted to Ka consciousness, come to your lotus feet, and take initiation. Still, 287
they sometimes think that Jesus, or a, is God, and not the son of God. What would you recommend for the development of their Ka consciousness? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can tell them, Ka and Christ are the same. We are pure Christians more so than those who falsely proclaim themselves as Christians. We dont eat cows, beef, or any other animal food. The Supreme Lord, Christ, has not created the animals for us to eat. We devotees follow all the principles of the Bible. You should also follow, and become pure. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: They think that Jesus, a, is the Supreme Lord. They think that he is viu-tattva. How shall we explain that he is the son of God? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Christ is Ka. Christ, Christos, Krusta, Ka.9 rpda Sdhu Mahrja: So, Jesus is the son of Ka. Brajanth dsa: Yes, Jesus is the son of Christ. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Jesus never proclaimed, I am God. Ananta-ka dsa (from Lithuania): May I ask a question? I serve in the Russian Orthodox Church in Lithuania. I have a relationship with my priest, and I have a very good feeling when I serve him. May I serve him after taking initiation from you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If he is against God, Ka, then dont serve there. Ananta-ka dsa: No, he is not against Ka. When I asked his permission to come here, he said, Go. I bless you. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If he is favorable, you can do some service there. [To Padmanbha Mahrja] Do you remember the loka beginning dukhev anudvigna-man? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: dukhev anudvigna-man sukheu vigata-spha vta-rga-bhaya-krodha sthita-dhr munir ucyate Bhagavad-gt (2.56)
288
Frielendorf
[One who is not disturbed by the three types of miseries given by ones own body or mind, given by others, and given by the demigods or nature who remains free from hankering in the presence of plentiful opportunities for sensual happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Dukhev anudvigna-man In any situation, a devotee should not be affected by distress or suffering (dukha). Sukheu vigata-spha He should not desire happiness. He should not be attached to happy situations. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This refers to worldly happiness, not transcendental happiness. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Worldly happiness. Vta-rga-bhaya-krodha The devotee is detached from every thing in this world. Bhaya He is free from all kinds of fear. You were just saying that we shouldnt worry about what will happen in the future. Krodha He is free from anger, and frustration. Sthitadhr munir ucyate Ka is describing the qualities and nature of someone who is perfectly situated in transcendental consciousness, or Ka consciousness. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To rpda Nemi Mahrja] Please recite the verse beginning tat te nukampam. rpda Nemi Mahrja: tat te nukamp su-samkamo bhujna evtma-kta vipkam hd-vg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jveta yo mukti-pade sa dya-bhk rmad-Bhgavatam (10.14.8)
[A person is entitled to the treasure of serving the lotus feet of Godhead, who redeems us of our worldly bondage, if he lives with his heart, speech and body submitted to Him and if, through his good vision, he truly sees the mercy of Godhead in the sufferings he brought about by his own deeds. There is no other way of being delivered from this world. Whatever Godhead does is for our good. We can be redeemed if we behold His mercy in every event and in every activity. But if we notice any defect in
289
His work, or realise any cruelty therein, it is sure to result in evilness and difficulty.]
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is the meaning? rpda Nemi Mahrja: If some suffering comes to a devotee, that devotee thinks it is a result of his previous activities; Ka is now giving a very, very little token punishment for those activities. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ka gives us suffering so that we will become detached from this world. That is His mercy. rpda Nemi Mahrja: Hd-vg He offers obeisances with his heart, with his words, and with his body. Jveta yo mukti-pade sa dya-bhk For one who lives in this way, the lotus feet of Ka are his rightful inheritance. This cannot be taken away from him. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If someone is abusing you, why should you not become angry? rpda Nemi Mahrja: I can think that this is the result of my previous karma. It is not that that person is doing something to me. Ka is doing something to me, and this person is simply the instrument or the carrier. I cant oppose what is happening. If I try to oppose it, it will come to me from somewhere else, or from some other person. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, always think like that. If someone is tearing a piece of paper, should you become angry? rpda Nemi Mahrja: Tearing my paper? I dont understand. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: You are like the paper. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: If someone is tearing an insignificant piece of paper, will you be angry, or not? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Will you be angry? rpda Nemi Mahrja: There is no need to be angry. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: The tearing of the paper is a useless thing. Similarly, we may see many things in this world which we may consider to be the cause of our anger, but they are all like dreams. After a dream is over, we say, Oh, nothing happened. So, we need not be angry. By considering things in this way, we will be able to do bhajana successfully. 290
Frielendorf
rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: In Badger last year, you were speaking from the Eleventh Canto of rmad-Bhgavatam. You were telling us about the Avant brhmaa. You explained how people used to come and urinate on his head, spit at him, and pass stool in his kamaalu (waterpot). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: The Avant brhmaa was not dis turbed by this, because he understood, These circumstances have come from my own previous activities, so I must tolerate them. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to follow this understanding, then you will be happy and able to do bhajana of Ka. Be nikma, free from material desires. Desire only love and affection for Ka, nothing else; then you will not be disturbed. Dont disturb anyone, and dont be disturbed by anyone. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, regarding this same verse, dukhev anudvigna-man, sukheu vigata-spha, when we discuss this topic, many devotees say it is easier for them to be surrendered when misery or suffering comes, but what about when happiness comes? They say that when happiness comes, they become too much attached to it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: After all, it is worldly happiness. There is no use of worldly happiness. Only ka-bhakti is of value. Our only happiness should be in the opportunity for svajtya snigdhaasaya sdhu-saga (the association of those Vaiava sdhus who are situated in the goal we want to attain and who are affectionate to us). rpda rama Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, practically speaking, in my practical situation rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Do whatever is favorable. Dont waste time. Sat-prema dsa: Gurudeva, how is it that ry uka (rmat Rdhiks parrot) merged in Brahman (the impersonal light emanating from r Kas divine form, or the impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth) after being with Rdhr? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: He is saying that when rla ukadeva Gosvm was in the womb of his mother, he was in 291
Brahman realization, or impersonal realization. He is asking how it is possible that the parrot of rmat Rdhik can be reduced to the stage of impersonal realization. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He did this to show that even a brahmavd, a brahma-realized soul, can become a bhakta. He did this only as an outward show. Paramnanda dsa: Gurudeva, when the body of the conditioned soul is burnt to ashes (cremated) after death, how important is it that his ashes go into the Yamun and Ganges Rivers, and what is the destination of that soul whose ashes get that opportunity? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Suppose a devotee is living in a foreign country and cannot bring the ashes to the Yamun or Ganges. How important is it to do this? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If one is unable to place those ashes in the Ganges, he will not do so; but if one has the opportunity to do so, it is very good. They will begin or develop in their spiritual path, they will engage in sdhana-bhajana, and then they will go to Vaikuha. Devotee: In the Tenth Canto of rmad-Bhgavatam we see so many chapters describing the ecstatic pastimes of Ka. We see in the Ninth Canto that there is chapter after chapter of descriptions of dynasties and names of various kings. Should we see some differences, or no differences, between the different cantos? Should we see that all of rmad-Bhgavatam is transcendental? Should we consider all the parts of Bhgavatam to be equally transcendental? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are not equal. Up until the Ninth Canto, the instructions regarding the various histories are given to inspire us for renunciation detachment from worldly things. We learn detachment from the histories of Purrav and Purajana and other kings, and then we become qualified to read the Tenth Canto. The material worlds creation, maintenance, and destruction as described in the Second and Third Canto of rmad-Bhgavatam have been told only for this purpose to inspire us for renunciation. Then, in the Eleventh Canto we learn from the many histories and instructions regarding the process to attain ka-prema. We are advised to follow all the instructions imparted therein.
292
Frielendorf
Yogesh dsa: This morning I was having a hard time waking up to come on your walk, but I suddenly remembered rla Prabhupdas words: A moments association with a pure devotee is worth so much. I wanted to understand this statement, so I ran here to find out the answer. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, you are fortunate. rpda raut Mahrja: You will be going to his house in Mauritius, so he will have your association there. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He is from Mauritius? rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: He is Yogesh prabhu, a disciple of our rla Prabhupda. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want to go to Mauritius. Can you help me? Brajanth dsa: You requested the devotees in Mauritius to make a festival like this there. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want a festival like this. I also want to meet with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, to thank him that Indian culture is still being maintained in his country. [To all the devotees] Also, remember this: I explained in my class about Saubhari i. He cursed Garua, and what became of him? Devotee: He fell down. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He deviated. He developed lust in his heart and then approached King Mndht to marry his daughters. We must be always alert regarding offences to Vaiavas.
ENDNOTES
The original inhabitants of Vndvana are attached to Ka spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called rgtmik bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vndvana, his devotional service is called rgnuga bhakti* (r Caitanya-caritmta, Madhya-ll 22.149). When one becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to ones natural inclination to love Him and is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord, that state is called 293
1
transcendental attachment, and devotional service according to that attachment is called rgtmik, or spontaneous devotional service* (Bhakti-rasmta-sindhu 1.2.272). An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas book, Prabandhval, Chapter Five: Feeling that he had attained nothing by staying with Bbj Mahrja, a young man left him. Then, after about two weeks he returned to Bbj Mahrja with a beautiful young lady from a wealthy family, whom he had married. He offered prama to Bbj Mahrja and said, Bbj Mahrja, I have entered the sasra, the material world. Bhaktivinoda Thkura has written in his Gtval: kera sasra kara chi ancra we should give up our offences and perform bhajana as family men. Therefore I have collected a ka-ds. Please be merciful to her, and to me also, so we can engage in bhajana and have a successful material life as well. Bbj Mahrja replied, You have done well! I am so pleased! You have collected one ka-ds? Then you should do one thing: you should offer pj to this ka-ds. Every day you should cook an offering for her, and offer her prama and some flowers, saying, You are a ka-ds, and very dear to r Ka. But beware. Dont try to enjoy her, otherwise everything will be destroyed for you and you will descend into hell! Hearing this, the boy was astonished and was rendered speechless. Frightened, he called his ka-ds and quickly left. Was deceiving Bbj Mahrja an easy thing? It was not possible to deceive him.
3 An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas evening class in Frielendorf, Germany, July 9, 2007: 2
I will tell you a story about rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm hkura. He had two disciples, named Ananta Vsudeva and Sundarnanda, who were both very brilliant and had sharp memories. They both served him, and at that time they were controlled by his influence. After rla Prabhupda left this world, they became guideless, and no one could control them. Ananta Vsudeva became the President of the Gauya Mahas all over India and also took 294
Frielendorf
sannysa. However, after some time he and Sundarnanda began to think, Our gurudeva, rla Prabhupda, was not qualified to give siddha-deha (ones perfect spiritual form) and majar-bhva. He has not indicated that he will give that to us. It is better to have another guru, and retake dk from him. Criticizing rla Prabhupda in so many ways, they both went to a bbj of Navadvpa, took shelter of him, and received [so-called] siddha-bhva from him. They threw the books of rla Prabhupda, such as rmad-Bhgavatam and r Caitanya-caritmta, in the Ganges River, and did other very nonsense things with those books. What became of them as a result of criticizing their gurudeva and disobeying him? Lust came in their hearts and they could not check it. Ananta Vsudeva gave up his sannysa-rama and married a lady, and then he went to Vndvana to engage in bhajana. He was hosted at the Rdh-ramaa Gosvm temple, where the Rdhramaa Gosvm eventually took all the property and gold that he had collected from his disciples. The Gosvm also took away all the books that he had printed and expelled him from his house. Ananta Vsudeva eventually became so depressed that he took poison and died, and his disciples took him in the night and gave him [so-called] samdhi. And what became of Sundarnanda? At last he became totally mad, at which time he began smearing his own stool all over his body. We should be very careful about guru-apardha. An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas book, Prabandhval, Chapter Six: When rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura Prabhupda entered his unmanifest pastimes, the Gauya Maha became divided over who would be the next crya. Ananta Vsudeva was nominated, but in time it was seen that he was not qualified. Many devotees asked my guru mahrja what to do, and he told them that if a guru is fallen he should be given up, and a bona fide guru accepted instead. If a disciple does not realize that his guru is unqualified at the time of dk but finds out later, he should reject that person and accept a real guru. If ones dk-guru is unable to give pure bhakti, then one should humbly ask his permission to take shelter of a qualified ik-guru. However, if the disciple is refused permission, then he must conclude that this so-called guru is selfish and worldly-minded, and should therefore be rejected. 295
An excerpt from an interview with rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja in Murwillumbah, Australia, January 15, 2000: rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: After rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvati hkura, there was a person named Ananta Vsudeva. He was very qualified, but he became charmed by a lady devotee and left his sannysa. He married, after which many devotees became against him and said, Now you should enter family life? This behavior is like that of a dog who eats something, vomits it, and again eats hiw own vomit. At that time he was very powerful. He had money and so many disciples, and he began to torture his godbrothers, the disciples of rla Bhaktisiddnta Sarasvat hkura, who opposed him. Satyarpa ds: What was the cause of the friction? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It came about because he was attracted to his own lady-disciple and married her. His god-brothers told him that in rmad-Bhgavatam and other scriptures it is written that such behavior is not a good thing for Vaiavism. They said, You should go with her, and you should vacate your position as crya. Everyone turned against him. He was at that time very wealthy and had a great deal of power, but his god-brothers left him and established their own mahas (temples) here and there. So there are many sections, and everyone besides him is in the parampar. All are like one. Sometimes they meet together and have discussions. They also meet here and there wherever there is an utsava (festival). Their preaching centers are in different places, but they are of the same opinion. Satyarpa ds: Was the falling of Ananta Vsudeva Kas arrangement so that the Gauya Maha will grow more? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, that is right. We can reconcile it in this way. Otherwise we could not have preached all over the world.
4
An excerpt from rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrjas booklet, The Way of Love, which is based on his lecture, spoken at the famous Custard Factory in Birmingham, England, June 14, 2003 : Jesus also taught this philosophy. He went to India when he was about sixteen years old, and he visited many places of pilgrimage, 296
Frielendorf
like Vndvana, Ayodhy, South India, and Jaganntha Pur. In Pur he saw the deities of Jaganntha, Baladeva, and Subhadr, and he heard Lord Jaganntha (meaning Lord of the Universe) addressed as Ka. In this part of India, the name Ka is pronounced Kroosna. Because of different languages, Greek and Hebrew, this name became Kroosta, then Krista, and now it is pronounced Christ. Ka, Kroosna, Krista, and now Christ they are the same.
297
299
New Delhi
September 30, 2007

Dar sana
[This art and publishing darana took place at r Rmaa Vihr Gauya Mtha in Janakpuri, New Delhi:] ymar ds: Some devotees say that when new people read the story of King Haricandra in the booklet Secrets of the Undiscovered Self, they think that his guru, Vivmitra Muni, was cruel to him for taking away his kingdom, separating him from his queen, and temporarily killing his son. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have clarified this. By Vivmitras grace, Haricandra went to Vaikuha and Haricandras son became a great king; so how can Vivmitra be considered cruel? Out of pity he entered Haricandras dream, gave him darana, and took away all his material possessions and conceptions. ymar ds: Majar is helping Rdh-mohana prabhu and vara Pur prabhu with the drawings of the cryas for your Bhagavat-arkamarci-ml. Mdhava-priya prabhu said that you want drawings. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Its going to be published in Hindi. ymar ds: Yes. We have no artistic or photographic references for Bhgavata crya and Prabhodnanda Sarasvat hkura. What should they look like? Majar ds: What should they be doing in the picture? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Bhgavata crya should look about fifty years of age. I want to see the prama mantra offered to him by Bhaktivinoda hkura, and then I can see what he should be doing. ymar ds: Well ask Mdhava-priy prabhu to send you the manuscript. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If the book is here with Rmacandra, I will see it here. [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja asks Rmacandra prabhu if he has the original Bengali book that was used as the basis of his translation.]
301
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Prabhodnanda Sarasvat hkura should look like a tridai-sannys crya. He is sitting and doing bhajana with daa and japa beads. ymar ds: Three years ago, we showed you photographs of the wall paintings (bas reliefs) in your Govardhana maha. Even though the photographs werent good quality, you were satisfied enough to order us to make a large size book of all the art we [the art team] did for you, and to give one copy of that book to the President of India. In order to carry out that order, we arranged for professional photographs to be taken of the bas reliefs, with dramatic lighting. And after that, Rdh-mohana and vara Pur prabhus did some photo editing. Now the photos are complete, and we want to show them to you for your approval. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They are the artworks you have all done? ymar ds: Yes, only two bas reliefs else is finished. [Showing a photo] We all did this place after Kas water sports with Rdh-kua. Rdhik and the gops after bathing. are not finished; everything together. This scene takes Rdhik and the gops in are now decorating Ka
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Okay. Okay. Very good. ymar ds: This is Pulastya i carrying Govardhana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why have you given him a stick? ymar ds: I dont know. We put the stick in the original sketch and showed that to you. Rmacandra dsa: Someone told me he was flying. Was he walking, or flying, as he carried Govardhana? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He was walking. Better to take out the stick. ymar ds: Okay, we will take out the stick. This is Dna-nivartana-kua, where the gops forcibly dressed Ka as a gop. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. Oh, let me see it again. [Looking again] Madhumagala should be somewhere in the picture. 302
New Delhi
ymar ds: He is here. He is very upset because Ka was defeated by rmat Rdhik. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Where? ymar ds: [Pointing at a part of the photo] Do you see these two boys? They are sitting and lamenting that Ka was made a laughing stock by rmat Rdhik and the gops. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. His ikh should be tied to a tree. [The gops had grabbed him and tied his ikh to a tree.] ymar ds: The bas relief is already on the wall, so how can we change it? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: No problem. You can change it on the computer. ymar ds: This is Santana Gosvm. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why is Ka holding this lotus flower? Why is His hand like this? He should be like this. [rla Mahrja pointed with his own fingers, showing how Ka should be shown pointing.] He is pointing to the il and telling Santana Gosvm, I am giving you this il. Please take it and circumambulate it. ymar ds: This is Pulastya i cursing Govardhana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Where is Govardhana? ymar ds: Here is his face, and here is his eye [to symbolically indicate that Govardhana is a person]. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It does not look like Govardhana. Only big, big trees are seen in your photo. It should look like a mountain, just as in the previous picture of Pulastya. Pulastya had been carrying Govardhana on his fingers, and then put him down. Now he is saying, O Govardhana, you will not come any further with me? Then I will curse you. If I cannot understand that this is Govardhana, who will under stand? Dont show eyes. Small plants should be there. ymar ds: This is nauka-vilsa, the boat pastime. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. I want to see that nauka-vilsa again. rmat Rdhik ymar ds: She is embracing Ka. 303
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But why is She looking very afraid? Majar ds: She is afraid of falling out of the boat. Her veil is flying. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It will do. ymar ds: Should we change it? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva is saying that it is okay. ymar ds: This is Ka surrendering to Rdh after the pastime of Dna-nivartana-kua.1 She is now blessing Him, saying, Kalya bhavatu May Your life be auspicious. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This animal should look more like a deer. It should be more golden, with spots. ymar ds: Okay, well change it. Now, here are the photos of some Dasa Avatra bas reliefs. This is Krma (Kas tortoise incarnation). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. ymar ds: And this is Nsihadeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, Nsihadeva. He looks like a person with a moustache, not like Nsihadeva. Also, there is no need of a mukua (helmet). A lion cannot wear a mukua. ymar ds: Okay, we can change it on the computer, but we cannot change the wall painting. Here is Matsya (Kas fish incarnation). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. ymar ds: Here is Baladeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Showing how Baladeva Prabhu should look by puffing out his own chest, looking mighty and smiling proudly.] He should look more carefree. ymar ds: Okay, we will try to change it in the computer. Here, the majars are dressing Rdhik and Ka after jalakeli-ll (water sports in Rdh-kua). rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Okay.
304
New Delhi
ymar ds: This is Buddha. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. ymar ds: This is Hanumn blessing Govardhana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why is everything looking green? There should be more stone color, and peacocks should be here, dancing. ymar ds: We thought that although nowadays there are many stones, thousands or millions of years ago there were not so many stones. We thought there would be more grass and trees at that time. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No. Stones were there, but not broken as they are nowadays. So, there must be more stone color. Some dancing peacocks and nla-gaya (large blackish-blue animals that look half-deer half-cow) and deer should be shown. ymar ds: This is Hanumn carrying Govardhana. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. Oh, let me see Hanumn again. [After seeing the picture again] He would not have given up his club; [posing as Hanumn] with one hand he is holding up Govardhana, and with the other he is holding a club like this. ymar ds: So, one hand should be down, holding a club? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Or, one hand can be holding the club over his shoulder. ymar ds: Okay. This is the Annaka ceremony: Ka and Baladeva and the residents of Vraja worshiping Govardhana Hill. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This is also okay. ymar ds: When you were previously looking at the bas relief on the wall, you said to make Baladeva whiter. So, Rdh-mohana prabhu made Him more white in the computer. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Pointing to Kas form on the top of Govardhana] He is Govardhana taking prasdam? rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Harideva. ymar ds: Yes. And, here is the other Ka, who is worshiping Himself in His feature as Harideva. 305
This is the pastime at Kusuma-sarovara. It is when Ka is sitting on the branch, but getting ready to jump off. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There should be more branches. From where will the flowers hang if there are not more branches? From the trunk? It should all look natural. Ka is hiding in a grove of a kuja. He is not sitting out in the open. Kas branch should be here, behind very green leaves and flowers. Ka should be sitting on a higher branch, not on that branch. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: And pushing down the other branch with His feet. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There needs to be some change. ymar ds: This one shows Ka jumping down and catching Rdhik. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. There should be more flowers. ymar ds: Okay; more branches and flowers. This is Rdhik leaving the rsa-ll in vsant-rsa (the rsadance that takes place in springtime). She is upset. Seeing that Rdhik has left, Ka is also leaving. The other gops are surprised, thinking Where did Ka go? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why is Rdhik so big? ymar ds: Because She is way in front. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: She should be practically the same size as the other gops. Her face is too long here. It should be more round. ymar ds: Okay, we will make it more round. [Next the artists showed rla Mahrja the paintings of Kalki, Holi, and the jala-keli-ll (water-sports), all of which he said were very good.] ymar ds: This is Ka lifting Govardhana. This gop is saying, Govardhana, if you fall down, I will curse you to become ashes. Mother Yaod and Nanda Bb are in anxiety for the wellbeing of their son. As Ka is holding up the mountain, He and Rdhik are stealthily casting sidelong glances at each other. In Kas ecstasy, His cloth is falling from His shoulder, His flute is falling from His hand, and He is about to faint. You told us 306
New Delhi
that Madhumagala is pinching Him and saying, Your ptmbara (yellow chaddar) and flute are falling. This is not the time for that. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. ymar ds: Here is Vmanadeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: What is this in His hand? ymar ds: A conch shell. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: A conch shell does not look like that. This looks like a fish. ymar ds: Okay, we will change it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I previously told you to collect all of your works, from the beginning. ymar ds: From my beginning with you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, from the beginning with rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja up until now, including all these bas reliefs. All these paintings should come in one book. ymar ds: Okay. We have recently made a contract with the BBT. In a couple of days, the BBT trustee will be bringing me a CD of all the highresolution scans of my BBT art the work I did for our Prabhupda. After that, the devotees in your publishing groups will be able to use them. For example, here are two paintings that I did for the BBT, and now Rdh-mohana and vara Pur prabhus have used them for the covers of your books for mass distribution Nectar of Govindall and Going Beyond Vaikuha. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Okay. Very good. ymar ds: One other thing. Radha-mohana prabhu and vara Pur prabhu are making a presentation of all the art, as a CD, so that devotees can show various slide shows when they are preaching to people. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Okay. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva used to do slide shows before [when he was traveling and preaching with his guru maharaja, rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja].
307
ymar ds: Vivambhara prabhu asked us to make a new cover for your English Jaiva-dharma. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: And for the Hindi edition? ymar ds: Hindi, too, if you like. In this way, people in the street will like to purchase it. What would you like on the cover? Presently it is a black cover with a small picture of rla Bhaktivinoda hkura. Would you like a bigger picture to make it more attractive? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: That photo is very good. ymar ds: It is good, but very small. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can make it bigger. ymar ds: rpda Vaikhnasa Mahrja told me that when he was going to print Jaiva-dharma in Bangalore, you told him to put Gaura-Niti on the cover. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I dont remember that. Why would I have said that? It is better that rla Bhaktivinoda hkura is there, as it is his book. Why Gaura-Nitynanda? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [Looking at the photo of himself on the cover of the art CD] Who is he? He has very long hands. What is he doing? ymar ds: You are giving instructions on how to finish the painting of Prema-sampua. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Make it beautiful. My photo cannot be like this. Is this my photo, or have you made it in the computor? ymar ds: It is your photo. [Possibly the camera lens had distorted the proportions.] We will change it to make it more natural. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, make it better. ymar ds: Also, regarding the Sev-kuja painting, you told me to fix Rdhiks eye. At that time I also changed Her hair to make it more curly. This is how it is now. Which one do you like better? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: This [with the curly hair] looks better. 308
New Delhi
ymar ds: I have one more question. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Your questions will not stop.
ENDNOTES
1
An excerpt from r Vraja-maala Parikram, Part 2:
At the place called Dna-gh, r Ka and His gopa friends would become tax collectors and demand milk, yogurt, and butter from the gops. When the gops refused to give any tax, Ka would forcibly plunder and relish their milk products. The gops, being tired of these daily encounters, decided one day to retaliate strongly. They decided that on a chosen day they would all hide in the caves and dense kujas on the hill on both sides of the narrow pathway. A few gops would then cross Skar Khor carrying pots of milk, yogurt, and butter on their heads. The plan was that the moment Ka and His sakhs would stop them and try to plunder their load, the gops would call out to their friends hiding nearby, who would at once descend from their hideouts. Then, under the leadership of Lalit, they would teach Ka and His sakhs a good lesson. And so it happened that the next day thousands and thousands of gops divided into groups and hid themselves in the dense kujas and large caves around Skar Khor. Then, as usual, a few gops placed pots of milk and yogurt on their heads and made their way towards Skar Khor. Ka, Madhumagala, and the other sakhs obstructed their path and forcibly began to plunder their milk and yogurt. At once, these gops signalled the gops who were hiding, and a wonderful ll took place. Five to ten gops forcefully caught hold of Ka. Another five to ten caught hold of Madhumagala, and further groups captured Subala, Arjuna, Lavaga, and the other sakhs. They slapped their cheeks till they were swollen. They then tied their ikhs to the branches of the trees and asked them, What pleasure is there in plundering our yogurt? Will you ever do it again? Madhumagala folded his hands and prayed at the feet of Lalit. Please spare me. I was very hungry. I am a simple brhmaa boy who fell under the influence of that fickle Ka. I shall never behave like this again. The gops thus taught the sakhs a lesson. rmat Rdhik, Vikh, and some other gops had captured Ka. They slapped His cheeks a few times and then forcibly dressed Him like a woman with a blouse and lahag (skirt). They even put 309
sindra (vermilion) in the parting of His hair, bangles on His arms, anklets on His feet, and so on. They covered half His face with a veil, placed a pot of yogurt on His head, and began to make fun of Him by demanding tax on the yogurt. From the top of the hill, Lalit Sakh aimed a stone at the pot of yogurt on Kas head, breaking it and drenching His whole body. All the sakhs began to laugh and clap, and yma felt very ashamed. Will You dare to demand tax on our yogurt ever again? they asked. Hold your ears and vow, From today, I will never try to tax the gops yogurt. They forced Ka to repeat this. Dna Nivartana Kua is the place where the gops reclaimed their dna from Ka.
310
311
Jammu
October 3, 2007
Radio interview
Hindi To English Translation
Announcer: Listeners, today we are introducing you to the worldrenowned preacher of ka-bhakti and ka-nma, rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja. For the past sixty years, rla Nryaa Mahrja has been a leader of ka-bhaktiyoga. He has been serving humankind, teaching how to make human life happy and successful. He is touring the globe for the twentyfifth time, and has recently arrived in Jammu. We are now meeting this divine personality, rla Nryaa Mahrjaj. Mahrjaj, we welcome you to our studio. For the past sixty years you have been preaching and propagating ka-bhakti, and on this subject you are the guide for millions of people. How are you feeling about this? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have been preaching Vedic philosophy and culture for over sixty years in India, and also for the past fifteen years throughout many Western and Eastern countries around the world. Millions of people are accepting this and finding happiness and auspiciousness in their lives. Knowing this, I am also feeling very happy. Announcer: What dharmic, or religious, message are you giving to the world? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Our message is that human birth is very rare. By His great mercy, the Supreme Lord has given us this human body. Only in this life can we know, by the help of sdhus and saints, that we are a minute part of that Supreme Lord. Due to our forgetfulness of Him, at this time and for millions of births, from the beginning of creation, we are roaming in the cycle of birth and death. We are looking for happiness and peace, but we are not able to attain happiness and peace due to distress of old age, death, and other types of misery that we find in this world. It is only in this human birth that we can realize these things. We can know and understand that it is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who has created this universe and that we have a relationship with Him. With this relationship we should perform bhajana at His lotus feet, come out from this cycle of birth and death, enter His association, and attain His service. 313
Announcer: What is the effect of the Vedic philosophy-based kabhakti that you are preaching in different countries? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Due to the Vedic knowledge that I am preaching all over the world, millions of people all over the world have given up eating cow and other meat, eggs, garlic, and onion, and are taking up a righteous way of living. According to the Vedic rules, they are wearing neck beads, keeping ikh, wearing sacred thread, and performing devotional service to the Lord. They are considering themselves very happy and fortunate, and they are saying that they are indebted to me life after life for saving them from the miseries of this world. Announcer: What is your message for the people of Jammu and Kashmir? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: My special message for the people of Jammu and Kashmir is that there is only one God, or Supreme Being. Whether you call Him Allah, Khuda, Paramtm, Bhagavn, or God, or any other name, He is the creator of this world. Because we have forgotten Him, we have fallen into this cycle of birth and death. No one is Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or Christian from birth. Due to our lifestyle, the society and country in which we are born, and our learned characteristics, we classify ourselves as Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or Christian, and because of this, we are trying to gain each others wealth and belongings. We are thinking that we are Hindu or Muslim. We are thinking, for example, that only by coming in the Muslim religion can one be benefited. With this idea we are even eager to kill other human beings. My message is that by birth we are not Hindu, Muslim, or Christian. We are the children of the same God, who has given us birth so that we can worship Him according to our own way of devotion and attain His lotus feet. He will only be attained by love. That is why we should offer our love to our worshipful Deity, be compassionate to other living souls, avoid any fighting, and maintain peace. This is my message. Announcer: What is the importance of Indian Vedic dharma in todays time? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Indian Vedic dharma is important at all times those times that have passed and those times that are yet to come. Also at the present time, it is very important in 314
Jammu
complying with this Vedic dharma. In the world today, rich countries like America have also become fed up with wealth. Wealth is not getting them any happiness or peace. The highest rates of suicides are in these countries. In Russia and China also, suicide rates are very high. No one is happy. If people of these countries accept Vedic culture, as they are now taking up as a result of preaching, they can live a happy life. They will have loving relationships with each other and will not waste their valuable time in fighting. There is a prominent mantra in our Vedic culture: vsyam idam sarva yat kica jagaty jagat tena tyaktena bhujth m gdha kasya svid dhanam r opaniad (Verse 1)
[The Supreme Lord is the controller and proprietor of all that is, of every animate and inanimate entity through out creation. One should accept for himself what the Lord has given him as his share, and never try to take anothers portion.]
There is only one Supeme Godhead. He is present in all living entities and is also in all moving and non-moving entities. Surrender everything unto Him. Do not be greedy for anyones wealth, belongings, land, or wife. This is the main reason for war and fighting. Our Gandhij also understood this, and preached it everywhere. Announcer: Mahrjaj thank you very much for coming to our studio.
315
317
V.rndavana
October 7, 2007
Lithuanian Dar sana
[rpda Sdhu Mahrja introduces many devotees, one after another, and tells rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja about their various devotional qualities and contributions to his mission. Each devotee offers his or her obeisances:] rpda Sdhu Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, here are the devotees from Lithuania. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: My blessings to you all. Chant and remember Ka; read and distribute my books. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: [Translating for a Lithuanian devotee] When did Ka first get His peacock feather? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is not that Ka only wore the peacock from His childhood years. He has been wearing it since His birth, and He has been wearing it in Goloka Vndvana eternally. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: He was born with a peacock feather? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He wore it even before His birth. rpda Sdhu Mahrja: Gurudeva, this is Lalit-priy, Ratikal, and Jayant. They are helping very much. They want to go to the Gagmts and to Krtika, and then perhaps organize a center next year. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: My blessings to you. Devotee: What service can we do with the qualities we possess? What is the best thing we can do to make you happy? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Be with the Gagmts. Do as they are doing. Preach and distribute books, and chant Hare Ka.
October 29, 2007

Dar sana
rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: We want to take all headaches from you. We dont want you to have any headaches. 319
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But I think that I have no headache. I am very happy to preach all over the world, and all sincere persons are coming by love and affection. I want that you will all continue in this way after me. Do everything like me, with love and affection not by controlling. rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: After me will be after a long time. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very soon I will tell my preachers who are preaching in different areas that I will not go to those areas to initiate. They should give harinma and also dk, and thus continue the mission. After my departure, and also while I am still in this world, I will allow all to preach and make disciples in their areas. But do not be like ISKCON leaders. They quarrel with Vaiavas and dont honor them; especially they dont honor senior Vaiavas. I want everyone to give respect to seniors, whether those seniors are ghasthas or sannyss. I request the sannyss not to think, The ghasthas are controlling us. They should not come. Problems always come, and they will continue to come in the future. At the time of rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura Prabhupda there were so many problems, and my gurudeva even had to go to jail. But pure Vaiavas always keep their feet on the head of problems, and I do that as well. Problems come, but I keep my feet on the head of problems. In ISKCON, almost all sannyss have gone down and left sannysa. Then, new ones are coming and making their pockets heavy as well. Still, to this day, I have no bank account nor do I keep even one paisa. Brajanth and Rdh-knta and Yaodnanda have accounts, but I do not. I have something in pocket, but not in my pocket. Everything is in the pockets of Mdhava Mahrja and Brajanth, and Brajanth keeps all the accounts. I have not done anything for myself; I have not kept even one paisa or shilling. Be selfless like me, following in the footsteps of what I have done for the mission preaching, establishing preaching centers, and helping others. I also want a ladies rama for ladies who are orphaned (who have left their home and family); either here in Gopntha Bhavan or outside. Also, I want a school in Vndvana for the children of devotees. [Later] rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Why are you worried? 320
V.rndavana
Kior-mohana dsa: I am worried because two days ago, after the meeting, you said very clearly, I will stop traveling. My disciples, the preachers, will be traveling everywhere, and they will be giving harinma and dk. And then you said, They will make their own disciples. My worry is that everything I have heard from you for the last eleven years about the qualities of guru, guru-tattva, who can give dk, and what is the definition of dk it seems like it was all smashed to pieces at that moment. I want to understand from you how someone can give dk who does not have realization of his own relationship with Ka and who cannot see the svarpa (form) of the soul. I dont understand. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should not be worried about that. [Indicating some Western sannyss in the room] Those sannyss who are preaching my mission everywhere are madhyama-adhikr. I think they will not deviate; I have that faith. Only a few went, like Prema-prayojana, but I have no doubt about these sannyss. The Indian sannyss, like Vana Mahrja, Trtha Mahrja, and Mdhava Mahrja, are qualified, and they are also madhyama-adhikr. For my gurudeva, I am giving initiation, dk, and even sannysa. So, I want that, in my lifetime, those who are qualified should do the same. Thus our parampar will continue. I would like that. If they are madhyama-adhikr, they can give initiation even if they have no realization. I have been giving initiation for the past forty years, since our guru mahrja ordered me to do so. We should obey our holy master, our spiritual master. But I also want them to be qualified. I have not told this for the ghastha-bhaktas. I have said this for these sannyss that after some time, in my lifetime, I am allowing them to initiate. After some time I will stop traveling, and if I have energy at that time I will write books as I am doing now. And at some time, if my health is okay, I may go one time to America, or one time somewhere in the East. You should all preach my mission. Brajanth dsa: Gurudeva, but you will also continue to accept disciples. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Oh, one thing more. The sannyss are going to all the places, but if any devotee wants that, I will take dk and harinma from Mahrja.
321
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: From Gurudeva. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They will come to me, and I will initiate them. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Direct or by phone; in some way he will give. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: But those who are satisfied by them should take initiation from them. Kior-mohana dsa: But how do we continue to preach guru-tattva pure guru-tattva? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They will preach as I preach gurutattva. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva is saying, If they want, they can take initiation from me. Gurudeva is happy to give them initiation. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes. I will give. But if they are satisfied by the sannyss, oh, no harm. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: rla Gurudeva, Kior-mohanas concern is that our siddhnta, and what we have heard from you, is that the bhakti-lat-bja (the seed of devotion) and ones relationship with Ka can only come from a Vaiava who is on the high-level uttama stage. What will the disciple be receiving if he receives dk from a lower Vaiava a madhyama or.? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: By the order of Gurudeva, the disciple acts like a postman. The postman gives money, money orders, and everything else, but that money is not his. Similarly, that money is Gurudevas, and thus he is distributing to all. They can take what I am saying in this sense. They should not think, I am guru. rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: Last year in Va-vaa, you told me that only the vraja-rasika-uttama-adhikr (the self realized guru who is an associate of Ka in Goloka Vndvana) can give the bhakti-lat-bja. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is true. It is true. rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: Then I asked you, Can one who is coming up from kaniha to madhyama give that bja? You said, No. But are you saying now that if you give the order to that madhyama, then... 322
V.rndavana
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: He should give initiation like a peon (postman). rpda Bhgavat Mahrja: It will come by that order? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If he follows the order sincerely, then Ka realization may come. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: Gurudeva, you are saying it is true you just said it is true that only the uttama-mah-bhgavata can give the bja. Is that true, or not true? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is true. rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: So the madhyama cannot give it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If the madhyama is sincere, he can inspire them for that. He will tell all these things to him, and inspire them for that ka-sev-vsan to come. [Ka-sev-vsan is the desire to serve Ka purely, the seed of which is the symptom of the bhakti-lat-bja.] rpda Padmanbha Mahrja: But in some lifetime that disciple will have to receive initiation directly from the uttama-bhakta? Otherwise, it is not possible to actually receive it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Dont have any doubt or worry. They should follow what Im telling them. They should not think, I am guru. [To ymar ds] What do you want to tell? ymar ds: When we go to preach, we tell people, Surrender to r guru. Suppose the disciple thinks, Yes, my guru, Padmanbha Mahrja, is r guru, that very guru who is talked about in stra. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: When I am not alive, what will happen? ymar ds: Wont there be another one coming like you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If I leave this planet, what will happen? Will everyone stop giving and taking initiation? What will they do? ymar ds: I am just speaking by siddhnta. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: No, no. I want to ask you: When I leave this planet, what will they do? Will they initiate, or not? 323
ymar ds: Whatever you desire, of course. But isnt there another uttama-adhikr always present on the planet who one should search for? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I think that whether I will tell them to do so or not, they must initiate. ymar ds: They will anyway, you are saying? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I know. So, why not beginning from my lifetime? In his last days rla Srdhara Mahrja stopped giving initiation, and when anyone came to him he told them, Go to Govinda Mahrja. But during my lifetime, if someone really only wants to take initiation from me, I will initiate him. ymar ds: It was just a question about our preaching. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They may tell the candidates for initiation, Your main guru is Mahrja [rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja]. They may say this during my lifetime. They are free to initiate, or to send the candidates to me; no harm. [Stretching out the word worried] Dont be w o r r r i e e e e d.
324
325
Govardhana
November 18, 2007

Dar sana
[During the Vraja-maala parikram festival, rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja held regular informal group daranas so he could meet with all the international pilgrims and answer their questions. The devotees of Russia, China, India, and Brazil were so great in number that separate meetings were held in the temple room for each of those nationalities on different days. The following is a transcription of the darana arranged for the devotees from all the remaining nations.] Lalita-kior ds: Can I come on your summer tour? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, as long as you dont go for the purpose of having a relationship with a boy. Dont go on the tour for the purpose of choosing a boyfriend; otherwise it is better not to go. Do you understand? There is a very big disease here. So many naughty boys and girls are disobeying me, and I want to correct them. This is not the place for those who are looking for someone to marry or to enjoy sense gratification. They should go out of the temple and return to their countries. They can enjoy there. So, you can come on my tour if you are strict and intend to make progress in your Ka consciousness. Devotee: What is the qualification for meditating on Rdh-Kas daily pastimes? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Those who have totally removed their lust and all kinds of anarthas (thoughts and habits that are unfavorable for bhakti), whose hearts are now totally pure and who have become humble, they can do so: td api suncena taror api sahiun amnin mnadena krtanya sad hari r ikaka (Verse 3)
[Thinking oneself to be even lower and more worthless than insignificant grass that has been trampled beneath everyones feet, being more tolerant than a tree, being prideless and offering respect to everyone according to
327
their respective positions, one should continuously chant the holy name of r Hari.]
They are qualified to meditate on r r Rdh-Kas daily pastimes. So many devotees take the association of the bbjs of Rdh-kua and in Vndvana, and in this way they go to ruination. First try to remove all of your anarthas. Follow the system told by rla Bhaktivinoda hkura in r Bhajana-rahasya. Svitr ds: [Introducing a new devotee] She is from Turkey. She wants to get initiated. She is saying, When I go back to Turkey, if I tell people that I visited the same places that Allah (God) visited, what will people think? They will think I am crazy. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You can tell them all the things you have heard that you went to the places of Allah. Please learn all the conclusive philosophical truths that I have been explaining, and then you can tell your people, I am a soul and r Ka is the Supersoul. That Supersoul was in India, in Vndvana, and I have heard so many of His sweet pastimes. Always chant and remember, Hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare / hare rma hare rma rma rma hare hare. Mohin ds: I have heard that you were previously doing bhajana here in Govardhana. Can you tell something about how you were living here, how much you were chanting, how you were alone, what you were eating, what you were doing, and when you were waking up? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I lived here before 1968 for two months. Daily, while weeping, alone, I would do parikram and read rmad-Bhgavatam and Caitanya-caritmta. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: In other words, not for showing off to anyone else. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I was chanting more than sixtyfour rounds a day. Mohin ds: What time would you wake up? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I would wake up at 3:00 am. Mohin ds: Then what? How would you begin your day? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: First I would chant harinma, then I would chant my hnika (gyatr mantras), then do parikram while chanting fourteen miles daily. When I returned I would 328
Govardhana
beg mdhukar (very small amounts of prasdam) at the Vrajavss houses. After returning from there, I would read Caitanya-caritmta, while weeping and experiencing so many transcendental moods. My sentiments cannot be told. Bhadr ds: Previously Ive heard it said that when we are preparing an offering for Ka, we should never taste it. Nowadays I am hearing that it is okay to taste the offering before it is offered, as long as it is not tasted in an enjoying mood, but only for Kas pleasure. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Suppose you are preparing something, and without tasting it yourself you give it to your Deity; and suppose it was like poison. Or, instead of using sugar, you used salt how will it taste? A rgnuga-bhakta who wants to give delicious foods to Ka may taste it first. Kas cowherd friend Madhumagala would taste a preparation first, and would think, This is very sweet. Then he would give his remnants to Ka. Those who are qualified for this can do so. Kacandra dsa: When you were in the Philippines, you gave me one of your socks, and all the paraphernalia you used there is also still with us. We are a third-world country and you came there only two times. What is the best attitude for us brahmacrs to develop our love for our gurudeva? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Read my books, and also rmadBhgavatam and Caitanya-caritmta, and always engage your mind in Ka consciousness. Go on doing this, always thinking, Gurudeva is with me in my heart. Devotee: Who is the guru of Jesus? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: [To Prema-prayojana dsa] Who is the guru of Jesus? Prema-prayojana dsa: John the Baptist gave him initiation, which is called baptism in Christianity. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Jesus was a servant of God. He was an exalted Vaiava, but not an uttama-vaiava in the mood of Vraja. Veu-gopla dsa: The other day you mentioned about the chastise ment of Choa Haridsa. You said that he committed a minor 329
offense but received a serious chastisement. I am wondering how it is possible to follow pure strictness in our own lives. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: yadi cha praaya rkhite gaurgera sane choa haridsera kath thke yena mane Prema-vivarta (Chapter 7)
[If you want to associate with Caitanya Mahprabhu, you must always remember the incident of Choa Haridsa and how he was rejected by the Lord.]
Whether you are a brahmacr or a sannys, if you are not following the order of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, you will be ruined. We see so many historical examples of this; so be careful. Choa Haridsa was not lusty. On the request of Mahprabhus associate, r Bhagavn crya, Choa Haridsa went to the house of a very old lady named Mdhav Mhiti to obtain some fine white rice for offering to the Deity. Mdhav Mhiti was eighty-four years old, and she is considered to be one of the eternal associates of the Lord. But there was also a young lady present in Mdhav Mhiti devs house. r Caitanya Mahprabhu knew this, and when He later heard about Choa Haridsas going there, He at once stopped Choa Haridsa from coming to see Him. He was teaching us that if one is in the renounced order of life and he sees a young lady, his mind and body may become transformed with lusty feelings. Mahprabhu wanted to teach us that those in the renounced order should follow the ideal etiquette and be careful about association with the opposite sex. We are obliged to always remember this. Your mind is very weak. Dont listen to your mind. At any time it may cheat you. My cheated Brahm, akara, Indra, and Nrada.1 She is very powerful, and she can only be defeated by Ka. So, be careful if you want to attain love for Ka. Devotee: Is it possible that there is a difference between the disciples external relationship with his gurudeva and his internal relationship? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Externally you can consider, Guru is my father, my mother, my brother, my guardian, my protector, and my well-wisher, so try to obey all of his instructions. Internally, you can know that he is an associate of r Ka:
330
Govardhana
skd dharitvena samasta-strai uktas tath bhvyata eva sadbhi kintu prabhor ya priya eva tasya vande guro r-cararavindam r Gurvaakam (Verse 7)
[All the scriptures proclaim r gurudeva is skt hari, the direct potency of r Hari, and is thus considered by saintly authorities to be His non-different representative. Because r gurudeva is so dear to the Lord, being His con fidential servitor (acintya-bhedbheda-praka-vigraha, the inconceivable different and non-different worshipful mani festation of the Lord), I offer prayers unto his lotus feet.]
Know also that gurudeva is serving Ka (Ka Himself) and K (rmat Rdhik), so he (gurudeva) must also have a teenage gop form. You can think, I want to be her maidservant. Devotee: Why is sannysa only given to men? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Women can take sannysa, no harm. If a woman is qualified, she can take sannysa. However, if any lusty person forcibly attacks her, how will she be able to protect herself? In a rare case, a lady can take sannysa, just as ymar is a sannys although not with daa (the sannysa staff) and all the other paraphernalia of a sannys.
November 23, 2007

Dar sana
ymar ds: I have a doubt. What is the purpose of the art book you want me to publish? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: All will see what you have done under my guidance and what you did before. I have seen one big photo book. Brajanth dsa: Ka Art Book. ymar ds: The Form of Beauty by Sharma? Do you want the pictures I did for rla Prabhupda in the same book? 331
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Yes, past and present. ymar ds: What is the purpose of having the past ones? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: They will know what a good painter you are. ymar ds: To show I am a good painter doesnt inspire me to do it. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Then let it be. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Gurudeva wants to show what a good painter you are. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you dont want to do it, then dont do it. ymar ds: I want to do what you want. Brajanth dsa: This is what Gurudeva wants.
November (undated), 2007

Morning Walk
rpda Nemi Mahrja: [Having heard from rla Mahrja that without rmat Rdhik Ka would be zero, or nirviea-brahma (an impersonal God without qualities), and having determined from his understanding of Jaiva-dharma that even without Her, Ka is the Supreme Person with independent desire, rpda Nemi Mahrja asks:] Jaiva-dharma states that Ka is not impersonal brahma. He is purua (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); He has desire. You said we will have to reconcile. I would like to know how we reconcile these two. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I have said that without Rdhik, Ka is nirviea-brahma. What has been written in Jaiva-dharma? rpda Nemi Mahrja: It is stated there that He is not nirvieabrahma. Because He is purua, He has His own desire. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Desire is also a power, and that desire-power is called icch-akti. Rdhika is present (as the personi fi cation of that icch-akti). Without Rdhika, there is no existence of Ka. He is nirviea-brahma. 332
Govardhana
rpda Mdhava Mahrja: She is always present as Kas akti, His icch-akti. She is sometimes perceived externally, as mrtarpa, meaning in Her personal feature, and sometimes as amrtarpa, meaning internally, as a potency. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It seems that Ka is walking, but His walking-power is Rdhik. rpda Mdhava Mahrja: Kas smiling, speaking, seeing, and everything else is a power. Without power, how can He do these things? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Rdhik is Kas svarpa-akti. Without Rdhiks akti, Ka has no existence.2
ENDNOTES
1
Excerpts from Journey of the Soul, Part 1, Chapter 5:
The verses of r Caitanya-caritmta, rmad-Bhgavatam, and other Vedic scriptures are full of profound purports and require careful explanation. For example, it is sometimes thought that the great sage Nrada Muni, although a liberated soul, occasionally falls into my. In reality, his apparent fall-downs are his pastimes of role-playing, performed for the purpose of serving the Lord in His various incarnations. All of his pastimes are performed to please the Lord, and also to teach lessons to all of us. In the following pastime, Nrada Muni conquered Kmadeva (Cupid) and then proudly thought, Oh, even my own guru, akara (Lord iva), ran after my. When Ka assumed His female form as the goddess Mohin-mrti, iva became enraptured and ran after her, oblivious to her real identity. r Nrada Muni gloated, On the other hand, when Kmadeva came to me, he could not attract me at all. Nrada approached Lord iva and boasted, I have conquered Kmadeva. Lord iva laughed and said, Dont tell Lord Brahm and Lord Nryaa. Not listening, he then went to Lord Brahm, bragging in the same way. Lord Brahm thought, A thorn of false ego has entered him. It must be removed. Brahm replied, Very good, but dont tell Lord Nryaa. Not listening, Nrada finally approached Lord Nryaa.
333
Listening to Nradas self-praise, Lord Nryaa considered, False ego, like a disease, has now infected his heart. His disease is like piles, and he will not be cured without an operation. I must remove this condition; I must operate. Hiding His real feelings, He replied to Nrada, You are My best devotee. I am very proud of you. While Nrada was returning to this universe after his visit with the Lord, he saw a magnificent kingdom in which there lived a king and his beautiful daughter. Delighted, r Nrada thought, I have never before seen such stunning beauty! Approaching the king, he said, I know astrology. I want to see the hand of your daughter so that I can tell you her future. He then read on the princesss palm that the man she marries would possess all the qualities of greatness, in full. Wondering, How can I marry this girl? he left and began to meditate on his worshipful Lord Nryaa. Nryaa at once appeared in his meditation and inquired, What benediction do you wish? Nrada prayed, Please help me. I want to marry the kings daughter. Please give me a face as beautiful as Yours. Lord Nryaa replied, All auspiciousness to you. All blessings unto you. I will do what is best for you. Now, convinced and satisfied that Lord Nryaa had fulfilled his desire, Nrada returned to the kings palace. It so happened that the king was then in the midst of performing his daughters svayavara, the ceremony in which a princess chooses her husband. The kings daughter was holding a garland, preparing to place it on the neck of the man who would most attract her, whom she would choose to marry. Nrada followed the princess as she perused the various contestants, showing his face in hope that she would offer him the garland. However, whenever he came into her view, she looked at him in disgust and walked on. Still, trying to attract her attention, he continued to pursue her. The associates of Lord iva were present on that occasion and, seeing Nradas repeated attempts, told him, Oh, you are so beautiful! Nrada believed that he was being praised, but he was actually being ridiculed. In the meantime, Lord Nryaa arrived at the palace on His bird carrier, Garua, and as soon as the princess saw Him, she adorned His neck with her garland. Then, without a moments delay, Lord Nryaa placed her on His lap and they quickly flew away on Garua. Nrada deliberated, What a wicked person! I have served Him selflessly throughout my life. Only one time did I request from 334
Govardhana
Him a favor I wished to marry this girl and I asked Him for a countenance as attractive as His own. I will now see what type of face He has given me! Then, looking in a mirror, he saw that he had the face of a baboon. Angry and upset, Nrada immediately flew to Vaikuha, where he saw that very princess on Lakm-devs seat. You have cheated me! He rebuked, I curse You that You will weep just as I am weeping over this lady. Your wife will be taken away from You, and to retrieve her You will have to take the help of monkeys! At the next moment Lord Nryaa removed the illusion created by His yogamy potency, and Nrada saw that the girl who had enchanted him was actually Lakm-dev herself. I performed this operation only to remove your false ego and pride, Lord Nryaa explained kindly. Nrada at once fell to the Lords lotus feet and apologized profusely. This transcendental pastime became the cause of Lord r Rmacandras appearance. It manifested to teach conditioned souls what to do and what not to do. We should not think that Nrada was previously in Goloka Vndvana or Vaikuha and was later covered by my. By the wish of r Ka, devotees can do anything to fulfill His desires. The following is an excerpt from Journey of the Soul, Part 3, Chapter 2:
These are examples. Brahm became attracted with his daughter. Lord iva became attracted with the beauty of Mohin-mrti, even in the presence of his wife. So this sex life can be controlled only by becoming Ka conscious (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Room conversation in Bombay, January 7, 1977).
The above passage may seem to imply that even Lord Brahm and Lord iva, who are both pure devotees, can become bewildered by my. However, the pastimes of Brahm and iva wherein they appear to be attracted by my are only meant to instruct conditioned souls. Brahm and iva occupy the highest posts in the universe as the creator and the destroyer respectively and conditioned souls sometimes desire such high posts. In the following conversation, rla Prabhupda cautions his audience about desiring any exalted position in this world, for all material situations are fraught with the 335
miseries offered by my. rla Prabhupda encourages his audience to desire only pure devotion to Lord Ka.
Devotee: It says here that a pure devotee like Haridsa hkura would not fall victim to Mydevs temptations, but even Lord Brahm, Lord iva, might fall victim. I always thought that they were pure devotees of the Lord. Prabhupda: No. They are pure devotees, but they are guvatra (presiding deities of the modes of nature). Just like Lord Brahm is the supreme personality within this material universe. Hes the father of all living entities. So they are pure devotees. Of course, if we very scrutinizingly study, Haridsa hkura is, in devotional service, in a greater position than Brahm, although he is considered the incarnation of Brahm Brahm Haridsa. So we should not be disturbed when we see Lord Brahm and Lord iva are captivated in that way. We should take this instruction, that is, Lord Brahm or Lord iva become victim of my sometimes, what to speak of us? Therefore we shall be very, very careful. There is chance of fall-down even in the status of Brahm and iva, what to speak of ordinary persons. Therefore we should be very strongly inclined to Ka consciousness like Haridsa hkura. Then we shall be able very easily to overcome the allurement of my. That is to be understood. Not that Brahm showed weakness. He is weak or he is less. No. That is for our instruction (rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja. Lecture on Bhagavad-gt 2.6272, spoken in Los Angeles, California, December 16, 1968).
These quotes show that Brahm and iva, as pure devotees of Ka, assist the Lord in giving His instructions to the souls of this universe.
The sages like Marci were not in the wrong in sub mitting their protests against the acts of their great father [Brahm]. They knew very well that even though their father committed a mistake, there must have been some great purpose behind the show; otherwise such a great personality could not have committed such a mistake. It might be that Brahm wanted to warn his subordinates
336
Govardhana
about human frailties in their dealings with women (rmad-Bhgavatam 3.12.29). The illusory material energy is represented by Durgdev, who is the wife of Gira, or Lord iva. Durg-dev could not captivate Lord ivas mind, but now that Lord iva wanted to see Lord Vius feminine form, Lord Viu, by His mystic power, would assume a form that would captivate even Lord iva. Therefore Lord Viu was grave and at the same time was smiling (rmadBhgavatam 8.12.14). The Supreme Personality of Godhead knew that because Lord iva is not an ordinary person, he cannot be bewildered even by the most beautiful woman. Cupid himself tried to invoke Lord ivas lusty desires in the presence of Prvat, but Lord iva was never agitated. Rather, the blazing fire from Lord ivas eyes turned Cupid to ashes. Therefore, Lord Viu had to think twice about what kind of beautiful form would bewilder even Lord iva (rmad-Bhgavatam 8.12.15).
Brahm and iva are not ordinary souls and are not subjected to temptation. They remain free from the lure of my; rather they are under the influence of yogamy so what to speak of the residents of the spiritual abodes of the Lord. In fact, Brahm and iva worship the residents of the Lords abodes, especially the residents of Vndvana.
2
An excerpt from Jaiva-dharma, Chapter 14:
Bbj: Now see how the akti of para-tattva (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) is never absent in Him. Para-tattva is always selfilluminated and self-manifesting. The Vedic mantras describe the three types of akti of that self-manifested tattva as follows: That Paramtm is omniscient and the creator of the world. He is self-born (tm-yoni), the controller of kla (time), the knower of all, the vara of pradhna (my), and the vara of all ketrajas (jvas). He is full of all transcendental qualities and beyond all material qualities, yet He is their master. He binds the jvas in sasra, places them in their positions, and liberates them from it. (vetvatara Upaniad 6.16) 337
This mantra describes the three states of par-akti3. The word pradhna denotes my-akti; the word ketraja denotes the jvaakti; and the cit-akti has been alluded to by the word ketraja-pati. The Myvds explain that brahma is the condition of para-tattva without akti and that vara is of this state with all akti, but this doctrine is simply imaginary. In reality, Bhagavn always possesses all akti. akti is present in all of His aspects. He is eternally situated in His svarpa, and although He has all akti in that svarpa, He Himself remains the Supreme Person, full of His own independent will. Vrajantha: If He is fully associated with akti, He only works with the assistance of akti. Then where is His independent nature and desire? Bbj: akti-aktimator abheda according to this statement in Vednta, akti (potency) and the aktimn purua (the Supreme Person who possesses all akti) are non-different. Work shows the influence of akti; that is, all work is accomplished only by the means of akti. However, the desire to do work is an indication of aktimn. The mundane material world is the work of my-akti, all the jvas are the work of jva-akti, and the cid-jagat (spiritual world) is the work of cit-akti. Bhagavn inspires the cit-akti, jvaakti, and my-akti to be engaged in their respective activities, but He Himself is still nirvikra (unattached and unaffected). Vrajantha: How can He remain nirvikra when He works according to His independent desire? Indeed, to be possessed of independent desire (sva-icchmaya) means that He experiences vikra (transformation). Bbj: Nirvikra means to be free from any material transformations (myika-vikra). My is the shadow of svarpa-akti. The work of my is reality, but it is not an eternal reality. Thus the defect of my is not present in the para-tattva. The vikra that is present in r Hari in the form of His desire and pastimes is nothing but the highest manifestation of prema. Such wonderful manifestations of transcendental variegatedness are present in advaya-jna Bhagavn. In spite of creating the material world by His desire through His my-akti, this cit nature remains in eternal, unbroken existence. My has no connection with the astonishing, variegated ll of Bhagavn in the spiritual world.
3 Par-akti is the Lords transcendental or superior potency which has three
divisions: cit, taasth, and my.
338
339
Bangalore
December (undated), 2007

Dar sana
Bakula ds: When I am chanting harinma, I fall asleep many times, quite regularly. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Very good. You can sleep, and after sleeping you can again chant. It is essential for this body to take rest. Only when you become like Rpa and Santana Gosvms will you not become sleepy. Um-akara dsa: Gurudeva, when we chant, why can we not always think of Rdh and Ka? The mind flickers to so many things. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: It is because you have so many anarthas (unwanted mentalities and activities). When these anarthas disappear, you will become steady in devotional practices. Um-akara dsa: How can we get rid of those anarthas? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Always stay in the association of high-class Vaiavas, and serve them. Um-akara dsa: But for ghasthas, will this association rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: As a ghastha, you can have more chances to serve them. Um-akara dsa: Can you be more specific regarding how to serve in the ghastha-rama? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should know what your gurudeva and Vaiavas really desire, and try to fulfill their desires. Um-akara dsa: What do I have to do, Gurudeva? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: You should know what a true exalted devotee wants, and try to fulfill that. Do you know what I want? Um-akara dsa: You want to preach the mission of Mahprabhu. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want you to know the desire of your gurudeva, and try to fulfill it just as rla Rpa Gosvm knew what r Caitanya Mahprabhu wanted, and thus wrote so many books. Um-akara dsa: What is your desire for me? How can I serve you? 341
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you associate with me, then you can know what I want. Um-akara dsa: How should I associate with you? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: I want that you give up all of your anarthas and become a pure devotee. I want you to be like Rpa Gosvm, Jva Gosvm, and Raghuntha dsa Gosvm. Um-akara dsa: That can happen only by your blessings. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: My blessings are always for every one, everywhere. You will have to practice devotional activities. Um-akara dsa: To practice and receive your blessings, you should again bless me. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you try, Ka will see this and think, He is trying hard. His mercy will then come to you: sva-mtu svinna-gtry visrasta-kabara-sraja dv parirama ka kpayst sva-bandhane rmad-Bhgavatam (10.9.18)
[r Ka saw that His mothers body had become drenched with perspiration. The garlands woven into her braid had fallen out, and she had become utterly exhausted. Seeing His mothers fatigue, little r Ka compassionately allowed Himself to be bound.]
Mother Yaod determined, I must bind Ka, and she practiced, or labored, to do this. Then, as soon as Ka saw her sweating and very restless to bind Him, He was at once bound by His own mercy. When Nryaa saw Dhruva not eating or breathing, standing on one foot like a statue, He considered, My devotee is performing such difficult austerities. At that time He came within Dhruvas vision. Prahldas father tried to kill him by various means, but Prahlda did not pray to Ka to save him. Still, Ka, who always looks after His bhaktas, came at once and killed Prahldas father. Cru-candrik ds: Gurudeva?
342
Bangalore
rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Ladies should be like Draupad, and more so, like the gops. The gops left their husbands, mothers, fathers, children, and everyone else. One-pointed, they went to Ka, and when they arrived at the place where He was calling them, He wanted to test them. He told them, You should return to your homes to your fathers and husbands. They replied, You are our father; You are our husband. How can we return when You have stolen our hearts? Without our hearts, how can we return? First return our hearts, and then we will go to our husbands. Ladies should be like those gops. Cru-candrik ds: You are always telling us not to criticize or hear criticism. If we are not sure if someone is criticizing, what should we do? Especially, what should we do if we think we are hearing criticism from a senior? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: There are so many stras, like Bhagavad-gt and rmad-Bhgavatam, where you can receive Kas instructions. Thus, when you hear anything, you can judge, Is it right, or not? If it is not possible to judge yourself, then go to your gurudeva and ask, I do not understand. What should I do? Cru-candrik ds: Should we perhaps glorify those who are being criticized? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If you are sincere, Ka will speak as a ik-guru in your heart. He will inspire you with proper understanding. For those who are not so sincere, He will not do so. Cru-candrik ds: I am not so sincere. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to become sincere. [To Um-akara dsa] If you give your heart and senses to Ka, then gradually, at the time of meditating, Ka will come to you. rpda Da Mahrja: Gurudeva, this is rdhara. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Are you a vegetarian? rdhara: No. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Be vegetarian. The word meat means me-eat, meaning that those whom you are eating will take revenge and eat you. Dont eat these things. If you become vegetarian, Kas mercy will come to you.
343
Narahari dsa: When we chant our gyatr-mantra in the evening, we are supposed to face North. When Thkuraj is in the room, should we face North or Thkuraj? rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: Try to adjust. It is best to keep Thkura in such a position that you can worship facing East. German Devotee: In the morning and mid-day. rla Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja: If this is not possible, then still face the Deities.
344
Glossary
A
cryapreceptor, one who teaches by example. One who accepts the confidential meanings of the scriptures and engages others in proper behavior, personally following that behavior himself. aivarya opulence, splendor, majesty, or supremacy; in regard to bhakti, this refers to devotion to r Ka in a mood of awe and reverence rather than sweetness (mdhurya), thus restricting the intimacy of exchange between r Ka and His devotee. anarthaan-artha means non-value; unwanted desires, activities, or habits that impede ones advancement in bhakti, or pure devotion for the Supreme Lord r Ka. apardhathe word rdha means to give pleasure and the word apa means taking away. Thus the word apardha signifies all activities that are displeasing to the Lord and His devotees, like offenses committed against the holy name, the Vaiavas, the guru, the scriptures, the holy places, the Deity, and so on. rati the ceremony of offering articles to the Deity or r guru, such as incense, lamp, flowers, and a fan, accompanied by the chanting of devotional hymns and bell-ringing. the worship of the Supreme Lord, or arc vigraha arcana (worshipful Deity), within a temple. When this worship is conducted internally, it is known as mnasi pj. It is one of the nine primary limbs of bhakti (navadh bhakti); arc means worship of an actual form of Godhead, not worship of a symbol or idea. rama(1) spiritual order; one of the four stages of life student (brahmacr), married (ghastha), retired (vanaprastha), or renounced (sannysa) in which one carries out corresponding socio-religious duties in the system known as varrama; (2) a hermitage, usually in the association of others, which is established to facilitate spiritual practices. aa-klya-ll the eternal pastimes which r Ka performs with His associates in the eight periods of the day. Sdhakas (practictioners of devotional life) who are engaged in smaraa, or remembrance, meditate on these pastimes. The periods are as follows (times are approximate): (1) ninta-ll, pastimes at the end of night (3:36 am-6:00 am); (2) prta-ll, pastimes at 345
dawn (6:00 am-8:24 am); (3) prvhna-ll, morning pastimes (8:24 am-10:48 am); (4) madhyhna-ll, midday pastimes (10:48 am-3.36 pm); (5) aparhna-ll, afternoon pastimes (3:36 pm6:00 pm); (6) syhna-ll, pastimes at dusk (6:00 pm-8:24 pm); (7) pradoa-ll, evening pastimes (8:24 pm-10:48 pm); and (8) nakta-ll, midnight pastimes (10:48 pm-3:36 am).
B
bbja renounced person; a person who is absorbed in meditation, penance, and austerity. bhajana the performance of spiritual practices, especially the process of hearing, chanting, and meditating upon the holy name, form, qualities, and pastimes of r Ka. bhaktaa devotee; one who performs bhakti, or devotional service. bhakti the primary meaning of the word bhakti is rendering service. The performance of activities which are meant to satisfy or please the Supreme Lord, r Ka, which are performed in a favorable spirit saturated with love, which are devoid of all desires other than the desire for His benefit and pleasure, and which are not covered by karma and jna. the path of spiritual realization through devotional bhakti-yoga service to Lord Ka. bhvaspiritual emotions or sentiments. Brahmcreator of the material universe and presiding deity over the quality of passion. Sometimes, when there is no suitable jva available, Viu Himself takes the post of Brahm; he is the diguru of the Brahma-Mdhva sampradya, and r Kas direct son and iya (disciple). Caturmukh, our four-headed Brahm, is known as Vairja, sovereign of the universe. He has eight arms and eight eyes, and he serves as the universal creator and preacher of the Vedas. a celibate, unmarried student; the first rama or stage brahmacr of life in the varrama system. brhmaathe highest of the four varas (castes) in the Vedic social system called varrama; one who is a member of this vara, such as a priest or teacher of divine knowledge.
D
daranaseeing, meeting, visiting or beholding, especially in regard to the Deity, a sacred place, or an exalted Vaiava. 346
Glossary
dhma a holy place of pilgrimage; the abode of the Lord in which He appears and enacts His transcendental pastimes; the transcendental abode. dharmafrom the verbal root dh, to sustain. Literally, that which sustains; (1) the natural, characteristic function of a thing; that which cannot be separated from its nature; (2) religion in general; (3) the socio-religious duties prescribed in the scriptures for different classes of persons in the varrama system; (4) ones fixed occupation in relation to r Ka. dk initiation from a spiritual master; in the Bhakti-sandarbha (Anuccheda 283) rla Jva Gosvm has defined dk as followes: Learned exponents of the Absolute Truth declare that the process by which the spiritual master imparts divine knowledge (divya-jna) to the disciple and eradicates all sins is known as dk. He then explains divya-jna as the transcendental knowledge of the Lords form and ones specific relationship with the Lord contained within a mantra. This means at the time of initiation, the guru gives the disciple a mantra which, in course of time, reveals the particular form of the Lord who is the object of ones worship, and the disciples specific relationship with the Lord in dsya, sakhya, vtsalya, or mdhurya.
E
Ekda the eleventh day of the waxing or waning moon; the day on which devotees fast from grains and beans and certain other foodstuffs, and increase their remembrance of r Ka and His associates.
G
Gambhrthe room in which r Caitanya Mahprabhu stayed in Jaganntha Pur. gopa (1) a cowherd boy who serves Ka in a mood of intimate friendship; (2) an elderly associate of Nanda Mahrja who serves Ka in a mood of paternal affection. gop (1) one of the young cowherd maidens of Vraja, headed by rmat Rdhik, who serve Ka in a mood of amorous love; (2) an elderly associate of Mother Yaod, who serves Ka in a mood of parental affection. ghasthaa householder; one who is in family life. It is the second rama, or stage of life, in the varrama system. gurua spiritual master. 347
H
hari-kath narrations of the holy name, form, qualities, and pastimes of r Hari (Ka) and His associates. harinmathe chanting of r Kas holy names. hldin, hldin-akti the potency relating to the bliss aspect of the Supreme Lord.
J
japaloud chanting or soft utterance of the holy names of Ka to oneself; usually refers to the practice of chanting harinma on tulas beads. jvathe eternal, individual living entity, who in the conditioned state of material existence assumes material bodies of the innumerable species of life.
K
Kali-yuga the present age of quarrel and hypocrisy that began five thousand years ago. In Kali-yuga people attain perfection by chanting the holy names of the Lord. kaniha, kaniha-adhikra novice devotee, or neophyte practitioner of bhakti. karma(1) any activity performed in the course of material existence; (2) reward-seeking activities; pious activities leading to material gain in this world or in the heavenly planets after death; (3) fate; previous actions which lead to inevitable reactions. name of the Vedic month that occurs around OctoberKrtika November of the solar calendar, in which the Dmodara form of r Ka is worshiped. krtanaone of the nine most important limbs of bhakti, consisting of either: (1) congregational singing of r Kas holy names, usually accompanied by music; (2) loud individual chanting of the holy name; or (3) oral descriptions of the glories of r Kas names, forms, qualities, associates, and pastimes. pure love for r Ka; love for r Ka that is ka-prema extremely concentrated, that completely melts the heart, and that gives rise to a deep sense of mamat, possessiveness, in relation to r Ka. kujaa secluded forest grove; a natural, shady retreat with a roof and walls formed by flowering trees, vines, creepers, and other climbing plants. 348
Glossary
L
ll the divine and astonishing pastimes of the Lord and His eternal associates, which grant all auspiciousness for the jva, which have no connection with this mundane world, and which lie beyond the grasp of the material senses and mind.
M
mdhurya the mood of conjugal love; transcendental amorous love. madhyama, madhyama-adhikra practitioner of bhakti who has reached the intermediate stage of spiritual development. mah-mantrathe great mantra, composed of the principal names of the Supreme Lord in their vocative forms: Hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare / hare rma hare rma rma rma hare hare. daily pre-dawn ceremony worshiping the Deity of magala-rati the Lord; (for Gauya Vaiavas) daily ceremony before the Deity of r Rdh-Ka, to wake up the Divine Couple before dawn. majar(1) a bud of a flower; (2) a maidservant of rmat Rdhik. the illusion-generating potency that is respon my, my-akti sible for the manifestation of the material world, time, and material activities. Myvda the doctrine of illusion and impersonalism; a theory advocated by the impersonalist followers of akarcrya, which holds that the Lords form, this material world, and the individual existence of the living entities are my, or false. Myvdone who advocates the doctrine of impersonalism.
N
nma the holy name of r Ka, which is chanted by bhaktas (devotees) as part of their devotional practice, or sdhana-bhakti.
P
parampar the system of transmission of divine knowledge from guru to disciple through an unbroken chain of pure spiritual masters. parikramcircumambulation. pramaan obeisance; respectful obeisances. 349
prasdamliterally means mercy; especially refers to the remnants of food offered to the Deity; may also refer to the remnants of other articles offered to the Deity, such as incense, flowers, garlands, and clothing. premalove for r Ka, which is extremely concentrated, which completely melts the heart, and which gives rise to a deep sense of possessiveness in relation to Him. pj offering of worship; worship of the Deity in the temple or of respected personalities such as ones guru, by which different paraphernalia like incense, a lighted ghee-lamp, and flowers are offered.
R
rga(1) An intensified stage of prema in which an unquenchable loving thirst (prema-may t) for the object of ones affection (r Ka) gives rise to spontaneous and intense absorption in ones beloved, so much so that in the absence of the opportunity to please the beloved, one is on the verge of giving up his life; (2) When praaya is experienced in the heart as immense pleasure. If by accepting some misery there is a chance to meet with Ka, then that misery becomes a source of great happiness. And, where happiness affords no opportunity to meet with Ka, that happiness becomes the source of great distress. rgnuga, rgnuga-bhaktibhakti that follows in the wake of r Kas eternal associates in Vraja, whose hearts are permeated with rga, which is an unquenchable loving thirst for Ka that gives rise to spontaneous and intense absorption. rgtmikone in whose heart there naturally and eternally exists a deep spontaneous desire to love and serve r Ka. This specifically refers to the eternal residents of Vraja. rasa (1) the spiritual transformation of the heart which takes place when the perfectional state of love for r Ka, known as rati, is converted into liquid emotions by combining various types of transcendental ecstasies; (2) taste, flavor. rsa, rsa-llr Kas dance-pastime with the vraja-gops, which is a pure exchange of spiritual love between Ka and the gops.
S
sdhaka practitioner; one who follows a spiritual discipline to achieve the specific goal of bhva-bhakti. 350
Glossary
sdhanathe process of devotional service; the method one adopts in order to obtain ones specific goal (sdhya). sdhana-bhakti the stage of devotional life in which a spiritual discipline is performed for the purpose of bringing about the manifestation of bhva, or ecstatic pure love for r Ka. sdhua highly realized soul, who knows lifes aim. sdhu-sagathe association of advanced devotees. sakha male friend, companion, or attendant; a gopa (cowherd) friend. sakha female friend, companion, or attendant; a gop friend. sampradyaa particular school of religious teaching; an established doctrine transmitted from one teacher to another; a line of disciplic succession. saga(1) association; (2) a community of devotees. sannysathe renounced order; the fourth rama, or stage of life, in the Vedic social system called varrama-dharma, which organizes society into four occupational divisions (varas) and four stages of life (ramas); renounced ascetic life. sannysa member of the renounced order. straVedic scripture. sevservice, reverence, devotion to. siddhntaconclusive truth; philosophical precept; authoritative principle of the scriptures (stra). ikha 56 cm diameter round tuft or lock of hair on the top of the head. ikinstructions received from a teacher; as one of the limbs of bhakti, this specifically refers to instructions received from a guru about bhakti. il a Deity of r Bhagavn in the form of a stone. Gauya Vaiavas worship two kinds of ils: (1) govardhana-ils, which are stones from Govardhana Hill that are as worshipable as Ka Himself; and (2) lagrma-ils, or self-manifesting deities of Nryaa in the form of small, round black stones that are found in the Gaak River in the Himalayas. lokaa Sanskrit verse. stras concise aphorisms which contain compressed knowledge for easy learning and remembrance. svarpa-akti the internal potency of r Bhagavn, which is superior to His marginal and external potencies. The svarpaakti has three divisions: (1) sandhin, the potency which accommodates the spiritual existence of Ka and all of His associates; (2) savit, the potency which bestows transcendental 351
knowledge of Him; and (3) hldin, the potency by which Ka enjoys transcendental bliss and bestows such bliss upon His devotees.
T
tattva truth, reality, philosophical principle; the essence or substance of anything. tilaka clay markings worn on the forehead and other parts of the body by Vaiavas, signifying their devotion to r Ka or Viu, and consecrating the body as the Lords temple. tulas the sacred plant whose leaves and blossoms are used by Vaiavas in the worship of r Ka; the wood is also used for making chanting beads and neck beads; a partial expansion of Vnd-dev.
U
uttama, uttama-adhikrthe topmost devotee, who is perfect in his or her devotion unto r Ka.
V
vaidh, vaidh-bhakti devotion prompted by the regulations of the scriptures. When sdhana-bhakti is not inspired by intense longing, but is instigated by the discipline of scriptures, it is called vaidh-bhakti. Vaiavaliterally means one whose nature is of Viu, in other words, one in whose heart and mind only Viu or Ka resides. Ka is the origin of all Viu forms. Any devotee who worships Lord Ka or one of His plenary manifestations (viu-tattva) can be called a Vaiava. vnaprasthathe third rama or stage of life in the varrama system; retired life which entails freedom from family responsi bilities and the acceptance of spiritual vows. varramaVedic social system, which organizes society into four occupational divisions (varas) and four stages of life (rama). viu-tattva(1) primary expansions of the Supreme Lord r Ka; A direct incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called aa or sva, whereas an incarnation from aa is called kal. Among the kals there are the vibhinna-jvas, or living entities. These are counted among the jva-tattva. Those 352
Glossary
who come directly from Lord Viu are called viu-tattva and are sometimes designated as Mahpurua* (rmad-Bhgavatam 5.15.6, purport by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja); Viu-tattva is an unlimited expansion of different transcendental forms of the Personality of Godhead, and the supreme or original form of viu-tattva is Govinda, or Lord Ka, the supreme cause of all causes * (rmad-Bhgavatam 2.1.19, purport by rla Bhaktivednta Svm Mahrja); (2) categorical knowledge of the unlimited expansions of Viu. vysa-pj the spiritual master is a representative of rla Vysadeva. Therefore, according to the Vedic system, the disciples perform the ceremony called vysa-pj on the spiritual masters birthday. vyssanaliterally: Vysas seat (sana means seat); the seat on which rla Vysadeva sits while preaching the glories of r r Rdh-Ka. In general, a vyssana is an honorable seat, offered to those who are considered to be pure representatives of rla Vysadeva.
Y
yogamythe internal, spiritual mystic potency of the Lord which engages in arranging and enhancing the Lords pastimes; the personification of that potency, namely Yogamy.
353
books by
r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Gosvm Mahrja

Arcana-dpik Beyond Nrva rmad Bhagavad-gt Bhajana-rahasya Bhakti-rasmta-sindu-bindu Bhakti-rasyana Bhakti-tattva-viveka Brahma-sahit r Bhad-bhgavatmta (Vol. 2.1) The Butter Thief r Caitanya Mahprabhu The Original Form of Godhead r Camatkra-candrik Confidential Secrets of Bhajana Dmodara-ll-mdhur r Dmodarakam The Distinctive Contribution of r Rpa Gosvm The Essence of All Advice The Essence of Bhagavad-gt The Fearless Prince Five Essential Essay r Gauya Gt-guccha Gauya Vaiavism versus Sahajiyism Gaura-v Pracrie Going Beyond Vaikuha r Gta-govinda Going Beyond Vaikuha Gop-gta Guru-devattm r Harinma Mah-mantra Harmony The Hidden Path of Devotion Impressions of Bhakti Jaiva-dharma Journey of the Soul Letters from America Mahari Durvs and r Durvs-rama r Mana-ik My ik-guru and Priya-bandhu r Navadvpa-dhma-mhtmya r Navadvpa-dhma Nectar of Govinda-ll The Origin of Ratha-ytr Our Eternal Nature Our Gurus: One in Siddhnta, One in heart Pinnacle of Devotion r Prabandhval r Prema-sampua r Rdh-ka-gaoddea-dpik r Rga-vartma-candrik r Rya Rmnanda Savda Rays of Hope r Sakalpa-kalpadruma Secret Truths of the Bhgavatam Secrets of the Undiscovered Self Shower of Love r ikaka iva-tattva r lokmtam r lokmtam-bindu The Soul of Book Distribution The Speciality of Gift of r Caitanya Mahprabhu rmad Bhakti Prajna Keava GosvmHis Life and Teachings Their Lasting Relation To Be Controlled by Love True Conception of Guru-tattva r Upademta r Vraja-maala Parikram Utkalik-vallar Vaiava-siddhnta-ml Veu-gta r Vraja-maala Parikram Walking with a Saint (2oo8, 2oo9) Way of Love Rays of The Harmonist (periodical)
Worldwide Centers & Contacts

WORLD WIDE www.purebhakti.com/contact-us/centers-mainmenu-60.html INDIA Mathura: Shri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha Jawahar Hata, U.P. 281001 (Opp. Dist. Hospital), Email: mathuramath@gmail.com New Delhi: Shri Ramanavihari Gaudiya Matha Block B-3, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058 (Near musical fountain park), Tel: 9810192540; Karol Bagh Center: Rohini-nandana dasa, 9A/39 Channa Market, WEA, Karol Bagh, Tel: 9810398406, 9810636370, Email: purebhakti.kb@gmail.com Vrindavan: Shri Rupa-Sanatana Gaudiya Matha Dan Gali, U.P. Tel: 09760952435; Gopinath Bhavan Parikrama Marga (next to Imli-tala), Seva Kunja, Vrindavan 281121, U.P., Email: vasantidasi@gmail.com Puri: Jayasri Damodar Gaudiya Matha Sea Palace, Chakratirtha Road. Tel: 06752-227617 Bangalore: Shri Madana Mohan Gaudiya Matha 245/1 29th Cross, Kaggadasa pura Balaji layout, Bangalore-93, Tel: 089044277754, Email: giridharidas@gmail.com Faridabad: Shri Radha Madhava Gaudiya Math 293, Sector-14, Hariyana, Tel: 09911283869 navadvipa: Shri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math Kolerdanga Lane, Nadiya, Bengal, Tel: 09153125442 AUSTRALIA Garden Ashram Akhileshvari Dasi, Tel: 612 66795916, Email: akhileshvari.dasi@ gmail.com Shri Gaura Narayana Gaudiya Matha, Brisbane, Queensland, Tel: +61 403 993 746, Email: bhaktibrisbane2010@gmail.com CHINA / HONG KONG 15A, Hillview Court, 30 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Tel: +85223774603, Email: bvvaisnava@yahoo.co.uk UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND Birmingham: Shri Gour Govinda Gaudiya Math 9 Clarence Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 0ED, UK, Tel: (44) 121551-7729, Email: bvashram108@gmail.com London: Ganga-mata Gaudiya Matha Email: gangamatajis@yahoo.co.uk Galway: Family Center Tel: 353 85-1548200, Email: jagannathchild@gmail.com USA Gaudiya Vedanta Publications Offices Tel: (800) 681-3040 ext. 108, Email: orders@bhaktiprojects.org Houston: Preaching Center Tel: (1) 713-984 8334, Email: byshouston@gmail.com

Walking Ws 2007 1st Ed

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Walking Ws 2007 1st Ed

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

2007

Our Kind Book Sponsors

Vrindavan New Delhi San Francisco

2013 Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. Some Rights Reserved.

Walking with A Saint - Morning Walks and Conversations 2007

North Shore, Hawaii................................. 19

Navadv pa, India........................................ 73

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia............................83

Los Angeles, California............................ 103

San Francisco, California.........................147

Badger, California.................................... 195

Frielendorf, Germany.............................. 253

New Delhi, India..................................... 299

Jammu, India............................................. 311

Vrnd . avana, India.......................................317

Govardhana, India................................... 325

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

About This Book

Walking with a Saint 2007

Why We Edit The Way We Do

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January 14, 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January 19, 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

tat-pdmburuha-dhynt tal-ligekrhadibhi rmad-Bhgavatam (7.7.3031)

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January (undated), 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007

January 27, 2007

Walking with a Saint 2007